385 IGT Toscana Rosso is a wine of quality, with fresh and fragrant expressions of rich, ripe fruit, characteristic of wines that appeal to today's young wine lovers. Though the wine's roots run deep in the region's history and the blend is based on Tuscany's most representative grape, Sangiovese, 385 is given a more "modern" cut with the addition of Merlot, Ciliegiolo and Syrah. This melding of two important wine regions combined with the experience and expertise of internationally renowned oenologist Maurizio Castelli and technical managers Alex Bianchini (Ciacci Piccolomini) and Paolo Rivella (Tenuta Fertuna), results in a wine that can bear witness to its origins, expressing great structure and character, without being dependent on the stereotypes of excessive alcohol and concentration often attributed to Tuscan wines.
A very refined texture to this red with cherry, orange-peel and walnut character. It’s medium-bodied with a lovely balance of fruit and ripe tannins. So fine and beautiful. Drink or hold.
Along with the white Fiano, Aglianico is the most representative red wine from the Campania region in southern Italy. The Irpinia is produced from fruit grown on the esteemed Contrada Campore vineyard, at 500 meters (1640 feet) a.s.l. This is a rich and intense wine, with a complex array of aromas including red and black fruits, earth, spice and herbs. Though full in body with a long, velvety finish, this is a very approachable Aglianico, and undoubtedly a great value.
Tanned leather and brick dust show on the nose of this wine, along with cherries, blackberries and a peppery spice blend. Cherries and blackberries stay present and fresh on the palate, with a sweet but gamy cured-meat note and relentless tannins.
In Italian, the name Amarone literally means "Great Bitter," and was actually coined in 1936 within the very cellars of the Villa Mosconi in reference to a wine the Bertani family had been producing under the name "Recioto Secco," (Dry Recioto) to distinguish from the much sweeter Veronese Recioto also produced using the "apassimento" technique. This Amarone is the most intense of the Tenuta Santa Maria wines, with its characteristic aromas and complexity. The wine is ruby red in color with garnet reflections, and the impact of cherry preserves, spices, and dried rose petals lend complexity and elegance to the nose. Warm and subtle on the palate, it presents an important structure and high alcohol content, balanced by velvety tannins and bright acidity and freshness.
Medium bright ruby red in colour with subtle brightening on the rim. Intense aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, dried fig and candied orange on the nose, with a cinnamon and clove finish. Very fruit driven on the palate, velvety, juicy and balanced, with grippy tannins and a fruity finish.
With headquarters at Arbizzano near the bottom of the Negrar valley, the Bertani family produce a wide range of Veronese reds from the walled vineyards surrounding the magnificent, neoclassical, 18th century Villa Mosconi. Their Amarone is made as a Riserva, with five years of oak ageing. The wine shows a ripe and chocolatey nose of surprising freshness, and the palate lives up to this initial promise: balanced and firm with juicy fruit flavours. Plenty of life left ahead of it.
Dried red berries and plenty of oak spice here. Full- to medium-bodied with a good balance of fruit and oak, a solid tannin framework and a long, savory finish. This is built to age, but is approachable even now. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is youthfully understated, wafting up with a nuanced blend of dried black cherries, incense and spice. This flows across the palate with silky textures and ripe red and blue fruits as zesty acidity adds energy, and masses of bitter dark chocolate emerge toward the close. Remarkably fresh all the way through, this finishes long, staining and pleasantly tense, with a coating of fine tannins.
The darkly alluring 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva smolders up from the glass with a smoky mix of peppery florals, dried black cherries and dried citrus peels. This is silky in texture, with cooling acidity and mineral tones that perfectly set the stage for a spicy core of dark red fruits. The 2016 leaves a coating of fine tannins lingering. Dark chocolate nuances blend with blood orange through the dramatically long and classically structured finale. This is a wonderfully complete Amarone. All the 2016 needs is more time in the cellar to blossom fully.
Sweet violets and roses give way to black cherries, balsamic spices and white smoke as the incredibly pretty 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva blossoms in the glass. This is an undeniably elegant and refined style, casting a polished display of licorice-tinged blackberries and savory herbs across a core of brisk acidity. The resulting expression is quite savory, tapering off long with building tannic tension that grows with each sip. Rich notes of mocha contrast fresh mint and salty minerals, as this finishes impossibly long with an umami feel. The 2015 gets an official “wow” in my book.
Fresh and spicy nose of dried berries and flowers with sandalwood and cedar. Full-bodied, yet very dry and racy, with firm tannins. Racy and long. Dried dark chocolate. Walnut, too. Real Amarone character. Drink or hold.
Bright ruby-red. Slightly reductive on the nose, followed by dried tomatoes, slight savoury tones as well as red berries. On the palate very juicy and with compact, tight tannins, unfurling beautiful savoury tones, and fruit. An elegant character with great length.
The Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is a long, polished and flowing wine that offers lots of aromatic detail. At first, it shows plenty of ripe blackberry and Morello cherry, with the baked aromas you can expect of a hot and sunny vintage such as 2015. Then, you get toasted spice, tar and licorice. In terms of Amarone, which is almost always an exceedingly full-bodied wine, this expression is slightly more slender and accessible. It has plenty of power though, with 16% alcohol, which is contained within the solid frame of this northern Italian red. The blend is 75% Corvina, 15% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella. Production is 12,000 bottles.
A subtle Amarone, with supple tannins providing gentle definition for flavors of baked cherry, dates and accents of spiced orange peel and medicinal herbs. A touch of loamy earth lingers on the chewy finish. Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella. Drink now through 2025. 2,083 cases made, 1,040 cases imported.
Ripe to the nose, it highlights the character of withering with sweet notes of strawberries, dried red plums and sweet almonds. Full body, soft tannins and an enveloping finish. Drink now.
This ruby red wine has garnet reflections on the body. The notes of preserved cherry, spices and dried rose petal add complexity and elegance to this wine. The palate has refreshing warmth and subtlety. It is well-structured and and reflects hogh alcohol content. All in one, it's a perfect wine, well- balanced by tannins and elegant and refreshing acidity. Received the Gold Medal.
The wine has a ruby red color with garnet reflections. The impact of preserved cherry, spices, and dried rose petal lend complexity and elegance to the nose. To the palate, it has warmth and subtlety, well-structured and with a high alcohol content, balanced by velvety tannins and an elegant acidity and freshness.
Lovely complex nose of plums, liquorice, cherry brandy, subtle leather, tobacco and spice.Lush and velvety tannins on the palate, with sweet cherries, cloves and nutmeg, this is round and generous with a beautiful length.
The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva manages to deliver all of the richness, opulence and dark intense fruit that you’d hope for, in an unbelievably vibrant and pretty expression. Blackberries, currants, cinnamon, clove, cedar and mocha create an initially intense burst of aromatics. Hints of stone dust and dried roses evolve in the glass, adding further depth yet also freshness over time. The textures here are elegance personified, as wave after wave of silken ripe red fruits and spices washes across the palate, all guided by juicy acids that create a pure and high-energy expression. Notions of tart cherry, licorice, bitters and baker’s chocolate linger for well over a minute. Amarone is often called a wine of meditation, and the 2013 fits that bill perfectly.
The dried fruit and spices, as well as figs, are very persuasive and attractive. Full body. Round and soft tannins with delicious fruit and a savory, fruity finish. All in reserve and balance. Drink now or hold.
Dark garnet, starting to mature. Distinguished, creamy, finely spiced nose, touches of animal, eau-de-vie and overripe fruit (figs, plums). Structured, dense and expansive on the palate, revealing great depth and an exotic side. Sumptuous, classical.
Received the rating of Silver Medal for extraordinary wines.
Dark garnet red. Showing a bouquet of dried cherries and plums and Christmas cake spice that are mirrored on the palate, the 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva is of medium weight with a tart edge that reflects the cool wet autumn weather of the vintage. A blend of 75% Corvina. 10% Rondinella, 15% Corvinone dried 4-5 months before pressing and fermentation then matured 5 years in large botti.
The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva opens to a dark garnet color with crimson background tones. This is a powerful, full-bodied red with aromas of sour cherry, red currant and dried cranberry. The blend is 75% Corvina, 15% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella, and this Riserva ages in large oaks casks ofr four years. There is a sour note to this vintage that creates a sudden contrast to the background sweetness you usually get with Amarone, making it a good bet for Korean meat dishes or moo shu beef. Some 26,000 bottles were made, including magnums and other large formats.
This opens with aromas of violet, cooking spices and underbrush. The firm, brawny palate shows dried black cherry, star anise and black pepper alongside polished tannins. Drink through 2027. Indigenous Selections.
A bright and fresh Amarone della Valpolicella, with an expressive cherry fruit and floral note on the nose. Clean and balanced with an elegant texture and good length. Highly recommended.
Intense, bright ruby red. Elegant nose of ripe raspberries, forest fruits, slightly after leather. Balanced on the palate with elegant acidity and fine enamel, looks very delicate and fresh, at the same time still young, ends clearly and full of finesse in the finale.
Deep ruby. The nose shows young perfumes of stewed black fruits and fine herbs. The palate is fleshy and firm with tightly-wound, elegant tannins. An age-worthy, generous wine all-poised for a great future. Will reach its peak in a few year's time.
Red and black fruit nose; the palate is silky, lively and fresh with a long, toasty-vanilla finish. This is a classy style.
An elegant Amarone, well-balanced and medium- to full-bodied, featuring fine tannins that provide light tension to the flavors of crushed cherry and dried fig, showing hints of loamy earth, licorice and dried thyme. Round and lingering, with a spiced finish. Drink now through 2025.
Pressed violet, allspice, baked plum and cake spice aromas lead the nose. The densely concentrated palate offers dried black cherry, star anise, clove and tobacco alongside firm, refined tannins. Drink 2019–2026.
The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva shows the elegance and understated nature of the vintage through a refined display of spiced black cherries, plum sauce, cacao, lavender and sweet violets. This impresses with its soft and silky textures, coming across as feminine and poised, with tart wild berries and dark chocolate finding a cooling balance with bright acidity. The finish is slightly shorter than I’d prefer, yet it’s enjoyable all the same, with mineral underpinnings and dark inner florals.
A linear and tight red with a dried-berry , citrus and berry character. Medium body, juicy fruit and light dry tannins. Drink now.
Pressed rose, violet, forest floor, baked plum and cake spice aromas emerge on this full-bodied red. The concentrated palate also has finesse, offering dried cherry, licorice, cinnamon and pipe tobacco framed in fresh acidity and back of firm but refined tannins. Drink 2017-2025.
An infusion of 24 premium natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds (carried out using a traditional slow, cold maceration process) is blended with Italian grappa and water to craft this sophisticated, all-natural elixir. Though the original recipe dates back to 1935, this well-balanced “boutique” aperitif turns both classic and contemporary cocktails into an exceptional experience. The Aperitif is meant to be mixed: add soda or sparkling wine or lemon/lime/rhubarb juice for a refreshing, low alcohol drink…or vodka/gin and vermouth (Aperitif version of a Negroni) for a cocktail with a little more punch.
Known for their vermouths that date back to the 1890's, Contratto also makes two products suited for aperitivo hour. Called Bitter and Aperitif, both recipes are made with an Italian brandy base, both endure a cold maceration process for the botanical infusion, and both use natural coloring from carrot and red beet extracts for the color. Aperitif is the lighter of the two (13.5% ABV) with a prominent fresh orange/tangerine flavor and soft sweetness that lends itself to the spritz format. Botanicals in the Aperitif include mint, safflower, sage, and licorice. The Bitter has a darker magenta color and bold bitterness thanks to botanicals like nettle, wormwood, and cardamom, balanced out by brighter flavors like hibiscus and rhubarb. At 22% ABV, the Bitter is also higher in alcohol and mixes beautifully with gin and sweet vermouth in a Negroni.
Ateo (“atheist” in Italian) was first produced in 1989, a difficult vintage between two excellent years, as a result of the decision not to produce Brunello in less than ideal vintages. That vintage also represented the first harvest of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards, the grapes that comprise the wine today. Ateo is a vibrant and juicy wine with intense herbal, spice and fruity (black cherry, plum) notes. A nice structure is supported by balanced tannins and indisputable personality.
Dark ruby violet with limited transparency. Invigorating scent of fresh raspberries and wild strawberries, cold fruit tea and some menthol, herbaceous. Juicy on the palate, berry fruit runs like a red thread, dry, grippy tannins and crisp acidity, dark chocolate and peppermint in the finish, unfortunately dries out a bit.
The 2012 Ateo, Ciacci's Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend, captures the essence of this warm, radiant vintage in its exuberant fruit and juicy personality. Black cherry, plum, spice and licorice flesh out in a succulent wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. The blend is 50/50, but it is the Merlot that really seems to jump from the glass today.
Dark-berry and chocolate aromas with hints of mint, particularly spearmint. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Some chocolate-mousse undertones. Drink now.
The 2010 Ateo, a Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is striking in this great vintage. Firm tannins support expressive dark fruit, wild flowers, mint, sage and blackberries. Although a wine more of region than variety, the 2010 impresses for its vibrant, structured personality and impeccable class. A big, full-throttle finish rounds things out in style.
Lots of berry, with hints of lightly toasted oak and violets. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy, delicious. Another year will soften the tannins slightly. But so good to drink now.
The 2008 Ateo (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) reveals gorgeous dark red fruit, herbs, cassis, cedar and sweet spices. This is a fairly compact Ateo - not surprising considering the vintage - yet it shows plenty of concentration, depth and sheer muscle. It is a terrific effort in this vintage.
The estate's 2007 Ateo is Cabernet Suvignon and Merlot now that the Sangiovese has been eliminated from the blend. Although the wine is made from international varieties here those grapes speak with a distinctly Tuscan accent. Plummy dark fruit leads to sweet herbs, spices, earthiness and minerals as this rich, deep wine opens up in the glass. This is one of the few 2007s that will actually benefit from another year or so in the bottle. It is gorgeous stuff!
This is a beautiful red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Montalcino subzone of Santo'Antimo (where super Tuscan wines are made) with light mineral dusting that show delicately over a solid core of black fruit and exotic spice. The mouthfeel is bright and polished.
Bianchini's 2006 Ateo (Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) flows from the glass with tons of harmony and finesse. Here the fruit is ripe, sweet and expansive, yet the wine possesses remarkable poise, energy and vibrancy. This delicious wine from the Sant'Antimo appelation is not to be missed.
Ciacci's 2003 Ateo, a blend of Sangiovese, The 2001 Ateo, the house Sangiovese-Cabernet blend, si, for me, the best to date, a dark ruby with warm and spicy notes of red and black currants, rosemary and thyme, and minerals. The powerful, sustained palate is sizeable and of excellent intensity. Drink: 2004-2015. Cabernet and Merlot, is a potent effort bursting with intense, concentrated sweet dark fruit, licorice and underbrush flavors. While it shows the heat of the vintage, the higher acidity of the Sangiovese provides freshness and gives the wine a beautiful sense of harmony. It should be even better after a few years in the bottle. Anticipated maturity.
Ciacci's 2003 Ateo, is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, is a potent effort bursting with intnese, concentrate sweet dark fruit, licorice and underbrush flavors. While it shows the heat of the vintage, the higher acidity of the Sangiovese provides freshness and gives the wine a beautiful sense of harmony . It should be even better after a few years in the bottle. Anticipated maturity:2008-2015.
The 2001 Ateo, the house Sangiovese-Cabernet blend, si, for me, the best to date, a dark ruby with warm and spicy notes of red and black currants, rosemary and thyme, and minerals. The powerful, sustained palate is sizeable and of excellent intensity. Drink: 2004-2015.
The 1998 Ateo ( a blend of 60% Angiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon) is gloriously ripe, full-bodied, velvety-texture affort with a dark ruby/purple color, plenty of smoky, earthy, blackberry, cherry, and currant fruit, a touch of graphite, decent acidity, and a seamless, opulent, voluptuous finish. This compelling wine is meant to be drunk over the next 10-12 years.
Medium-deep red. Floral aromas of cherry, redcurrant and mint. Sweet, round and seamless, with enticing inner-mouth floral perfume. Fat more than especially complex, but quite suave and sweet on the aftertaste.
Deep red. Aromas of currant, maple syrup, game and gunflint. Tactile, rich and silky in the mouth; intensely flavored and quite deep. Beautifully integrated acids and tannins. Quite suave and harmonious.
The name of this wine, Back to Basics, perfectly sums up the philosophy of this Verdicchio, produced with grapes vinified and refined only in stainless steel, allowing for a pure expression of this typical variety. Aromas of flowers and ripe stone fruits alternate in a sort of perfumed dance, aromatic herbs joining in as well. A medium-structured wine reveals a perfect balance between sapidity and freshness and a citrus finish. Pairs perfectly with first dishes, vegetable sauces and fish.
Once again, I find myself thoroughly enjoying another Verdicchio; this time, it’s the 2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Back to Basics. This makes an amazing first impression, with its stunning golden color in the glass and spicy, wickedly fresh bouquet that mixes dusty flowers, incense, almonds and dried nectarines. It envelopes the palate in silken character, complemented by a pleasant inner sweetness, as mineral and ginger-tinged apple gives way to pretty inner florals and hints of honey. The mouth waters through the medium-length finale; savory, even salty, yet with a contrasting nuance of peach preserves that seals the deal.
The 2018 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Back to Basics is remarkably pretty and floral, showing hints of honied apple, kiwi and sweet herbal tea leaves. Oily textures, hosting ripe stone fruits and inner florals, are placed into sharper focus, as juicy acids maintain balance; yet I can’t help but feel that there may be some small amount of residual sugar here. Nevertheless, the Back to Basics is truly impressive, coming across as mouthwatering and fun with all of the textbook Verdicchio tension and minerality that we crave.
A juicy, apple and pear style with limes building into the palate. Decent freshness. Drink now.
Some bright, fresh herbs and apple character, making this a neat and fresh white with a smoothly crafted phenolic texture. Drink now.
This Barbaresco Riserva is crafted from Nebbiolo grapes planted in the calcareous clay/sandy soil of the miniscule Bric Micca Cru, the highest point (1,200-1,300 feet above sea level) of the Baluchin vineyard in Neive. Baluchin means “star” in the Piedmontese dialect, and refers to the vineyard’s ideal position for star gazing on clear night. This is an extremely precise and focused expression of Nebbiolo, with razor sharp, elegant aromas of blue violets, flint and ash. The high altitude, and thus cooler temperatures, of the vineyard result in a particularly pretty and graceful wine that opens quite beautifully at even a young age. A close friend of Giorgio Rivetti, vitner Ezio Cocito vinifies his Baluchin at La Spinetta’s cellar in Castagnole Lanze.
Released to the market with a good amount of bottle age under its belt. That extra time has permitted a smooth evolution and integration for what will be remembered as an epic vintage. The wine has a distinctive note of resin or tea leaf that appears with pressed rose and redcurrant. This is a unique and very successful expression.
The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is the best wine I have tasted from Ezio Cocito. It has all the depth, power and structure that have long been signatures, but it also feels less heavy and less extracted than in the past. Of course, some of that may be attributable to bottle age. In any event, the 2016 possesses notable depth that just builds in the glass, leading to a long, sustained finish that is very beautiful.
The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is a powerful, dense wine. Black fruit, tobacco, cedar, menthol, chocolate and licorice all run through this brooding, somber Barbaresco.
Here's a late release, from a little producer in Barbaresco, that is hitting the market 10 years after the harvest. Ezio Cocito's 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin has aromas of rust and iodine that underline the tertiary elements of this aged Nebbiolo. Luckily, the fruit holds steady, and although it tastes mature, you still get crème de cassis and dried cherry. The effect is very beautiful overall, and this wine shows nice harmony. Drinking it now is a good bet, although you can expect a bit more aging from this bottle.
This wine is always released much later than its peers. The Cocito 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin draws its fruit from a cool and high-altitude growing site in Neive where obtaining acidity and fruit brightness is never a problem. These conditions also suggest a longer cellar-aging window. The fact that the 2013 vintage was spared major temperature spikes during the summer months further reinforces these impressions. This Riserva presents dark cassis and plum, with some spicy elements of crushed clove, balsamic herb or rosemary essence. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and I think you can be confident in the aging of this bottle.
Cocito's 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is a gorgeous, modern-style wine. Sumptuous and racy with no hard edges, the 2013 offers tons of immediacy and sheer appeal. Succulent black cherry, plum, tobacco, menthol and licorice build as this extroverted Barbaresco shows off its allure, which is considerable.
The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is wonderfully open and racy, which makes it an excellent choice for drinking over the near and medium term. Sweet red cherry, wild flowers, mint, white chocolate and a kiss of French oak complement the natural richness of the vintage nicely. Gracious and light on its feet, the 2011 shows plenty of Nebbiolo translucence in a forward, racy style. My sense is that the Baluchin would be even better with a less oak influence, something this wine doesn't really need.
I tasted this wine at the La Spinetta winery because vintner Ezio Cocito is a close friend of Giorgio Rivetti. The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is an extremely precise and focused expression of Nebbiolo. The aromas are razor sharp. Cocito farms some of the highest-altitude vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation at 400 meters above sea level. I can only imagine that achieving ripeness must be a challenge in the coolest vintages. The vines are 24 years old, and therefore stable and consistent in terms of their output. The vineyard measures a mere 1.2 hectares and only 4,000 bottles were made. Limestone soils push elegant aromas of blue violets, flint and campfire ash.
The Cocito 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is a slightly softer and fruitier expression of Nebbiolo compared to the more linear 2008 vintage of the same wine. This Riserva shows abundant aromas of red fruit, pressed rose, cola, licorice, tar and tilled earth. The presentation is smooth, rich and enduring. Stylistically speaking, this is an opulent and generous expression of Nebbiolo.
The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin fleshes out beautifully in the glass. Round, sensual and inviting, the 2009 benefits from the warmer growing season, which gives it a bit more depth and richness than the 2008. Sweet red cherry, orange peel, white pepper and mint add shades of complexity as this nuanced Barbaresco opens up effortlessly in the glass.
The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is an austere and masculine expression with savory of dark fruit, tobacco and dusty earth. The wine leaves a very long impression on the finish. Released eight years after the harvest, the mouthfeel is dry, silghtly astringent and already showing its first signs of an elegant evolution. This vintage offers a classic and linear interpretation of Nebbiolo.
The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Baluchin is deep, powerful and intense. Black cherry, plum, violets, spices and lavender all meld together in a big, rich Barbaresco endowed with power and intensity. Although a touch slender because of the vineyard's altitude and the conditions of the year, the 2008 Baluchin is quite pretty.
A red with dark berry, dried mushroom, wet earth and balasmic. Full body with round, chewy tannins. Organic grapes. 3,000 bottles. Needs a few more years to soften.
In 2006 Giorgio Rivetti bought 4 hectares (10 acres) plot directly from the last of the Bordini family, who farmed the vineyard for over 300 years. Bordini is located adjacent to the Starderi vineyard on its western corner and it is exclusively plated to the Nebbiolo grape. The vines are 20-25 year old growing in the calcareous soils at 270 meters above sea level (885 feet). Barbresco Brodini ages for 20-22 months in oak barriques yielding an elegant and floral Barbaresco representative of La Spinetta style.
Looking at the first of four Barbaresco, the 2022 Barbaresco Bordini is floral and inviting on the nose, and has fruity aromas of preserved strawberries, herbes de Provence, crushed flowers, and sweet herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, with a good deal of intensity upfront, as well as fine tannins, snappy, angular acidity, and a nervous energy at this early stage. It will likely improve in another 6-12 months and can be enjoyed over the coming 10 years.
Lots of flower petal, dried strawberry, cedar and milk chocolate character on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied with tannins that build on the palate and are long and consistent. Turns soft at the end as it grows on the palate. Better in 2027 and on onwards.
The La Spinetta 2021 Barbaresco Bordini, with organic fruit from the village of Neive, offers a voluptuous interpretation of Nebbiolo with fragrant tones of rose, blue flowers and sweet cherry on the close. The wine delivers more heft and fruit weight overall with pretty notes of crushed aspirin on the finish. It also tastes a bit stemmy with rosemary and dried herb.
Offering a mix of balsamic and savory aromas and flavors, this red reveals notes of eucalyptus, mint, juniper, black currant and raspberry. Sleek and firmly structured, with intense fruit and a mineral element prevailing in the end. Balanced, this just needs a few years to integrate. Best from 2028 through 2043. 1,083 cases made, 361 cases imported.
The 2021 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a very pretty, open-knit wine. Crushed flowers, red cherry/plum fruit, leather, spice, menthol and blood orange are front and center. Wines from Bordini tend to be a bit more tannic, but the 2021 here is pretty approachable. Floral and spice overtones lift the finish.
Pretty ripe fruit with citrus and baking spices on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins that give tension and framing to the wine. Better in two or three years.
The La Spinetta 2020 Barbaresco Bordini has a spicy note on first nose that recalls cinnamon and a touch of something darker like crushed clove. This warm-vintage expression of Nebbiolo embraces rich fruit aromas of blackberry and dark currant, and there is an earthy side with rusty nail and potting soil. It closes with high-toned accents of balsam herb or eucalyptus oil.
The 2020 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is redolent of crushed flowers, red berry fruit, mint, white pepper. This mid-weight, nervy Barbaresco has much to offer, especially if the tannins soften a bit. This is the most floral and mid-weight of the Spinetta Barbarescos.
La Spinetta's 2019 Barbaresco Bordini opens to a wide and ample set of Nebbiolo aromas spanning from Morello cherry and plum, to dark earth and spicy licorice. This is a solid, mid-weight expression and a wine that ultimately lasts long on the palate thanks to the density and quality of its texture.
The roses and lemon leaf come through in the nose, with a palate of cherries and plums. Medium-bodied with chewy yet fine tannins and a medium finish. A year or two will soften this. Drink after 2024.
Both rich and dense, this Barbaresco exhibits aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, iron, underbrush and earth. Dense and persistent, with fine balance overall and a lingering finish. Best from 2026 through 2042.
The 2019 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a powerful, brooding wine that packs a ton of punch. I would give it a few hours of air to help soften some of the formidable tannins. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, leather, sweet spice, flowers, licorice and menthol are all amplified, as are the tannins. This is far from an easy going Barbaresco, but it does open nicely with aeration.
La Spinetta's 2018 Barbaresco Bordini is a very nuanced and streamlined expression. It opens softly to present aromas of red and purple currants. The elegance of the wine comes out, thanks to the subtle mineral tones of crushed limestone and dry earth that lift so delicately from the bouquet. The La Spinetta house style is normally richer and more concentrated, and this cool vintage comes as a nice surprise.
Bordini has southeast exposition with sandy soils at 240 meters elevation. The 2018 Barbaresco Bordini offers soft floral aromas of candied peach, wild strawberry, and cinnamon. The palate is medium-bodied and inviting, with fresh raspberry, delicately steeped tea, and rosewater. It has fine tannins, and with its lean texture and refreshing acidity, it is prime for early drinking. Enjoy 2021-2028.
Flavors of sweet cherry and raspberry jelly mix with notes of black-currant pastille and cherry cola in this bold, spice-laden wine. The notes begin to harmonize toward the finish, brightened by hints of licorice and menthol.
Really beautiful 2017 Barbaresco with ripe cherry, orange peel and light chocolate at the end. It’s full-bodied, tight and focused with a long, flavorful finish. Give it some time to come together. Try after 2023.
This red is marked by a mix of juniper, eucalyptus and thyme flavors, with bright black currant and bilberry fruit. The initial suppleness is replaced by dense, dusty tannins as this winds down on the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2039.
From the comune of Neive, the 2017 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is made from youngish vines, aged about 30 years on average. Bright, tonic and fresh, Bordini offers an accessible and approachable expression of aged Nebbiolo that could work well in a restaurant setting or for near-term consumption. The wine opens to a vibrant bouquet with cherry, licorice, tar and campfire ash. The tannins are noticeable and firm, reflecting the heat of the vintage but forging forward to shape a long and polished finish.
The 2017 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a supple, easygoing wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Sweet raspberry fruit, crushed rose petal, sweet spice and a kick of new French oak give this mid-weight Barbaresco tons of sheer allure. In 2017, the Bordini is terrific.
Violet, raspberry and jupiter flavors mark this elegant yet firmly structured Barbaresco. Hints of earth, iron and eucalyptus add detail as this tightens up on the finish. Decant now or celllar. Best from 2023 through 2040. 1,083 cases made, 152 cases imported.
A uniquely pretty nose with plenty of peach tea, persimmon and earl grey tea. Medium to full body, round and generous tannins and a orange-coated finish. Drink in 2021.
This Barbaresco is of a thicker and darker concentration than the others within this set of new releases, with ripe cherry fruit and dark berries that lift immediately from the glass. But the 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is thinner and less consequential in the mouth than I had expected from the appearance. This is a very linear and streamlined approach that could accompany a tenderloin carpaccio with arugula, shaved Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil. Some 11,500 bottles were produced.
The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is an attractive wine, especially in its peer group. Pretty floral, red berry fruit, mint and a touch of small French oak are all beautifully lifted. In the glass, the 2016 is a touch slender and nervous, but very attractive just the same. Dried cherry, crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, mint and white pepper and a touch of new oak give the 2016 a bright, piercing upper register.
Exotic aromas of rose, peony, raspberry and kirsch are shaded by juniper, wild thyme and tar accents. This is an elegant red, firmly structured yet balanced and long, with a persistent, detailed finish. Best from 2022 through 2036. 1,080 cases made, 380 cases imported.
Giorgio Rivetti of La Spinetta is one of the region's leading modernists, producing voluptuous wines with great intensity of flavour. This is aged in older tonneaux so is not overtly oaky. The nose is opulent, with super-ripe but not overblown cherry aromas, and the attack is sweet, concentrated and tannic, blending breadth and assertion. It's powerful and spicy, showing energy rather than upfront fruitiness, with a long, chewy finish.
Decadent and rich aromas of smoked meat, ripe fruit and rose stems. Lots of leather, too. Full body, round and soft tannins and a delicious finish. Give it a year or two to come around more, but already delicious.
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is La Spinetta's most accessible expression of Barbaresco. I tasted the wine one month after it was bottled. This edition should be hitting the market within the next few months. Fruit for this wine comes from the southeast side of the Bordini cru that is known for softer and sweeter berries. That ripeness is particularly evident in this warm vintage. This wine is packed tight with flavors of cherry and blackberry confit and ends with powerful 14.5% alcohol. This is a ripe-tasting, near-term Barbaresco
La Spinetta's 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is soft, open-knit and inviting, all of which makes it a fine choice for drinking over the next decade or so. Crushed flowers, dried herbs, tobacco, cedar and mint are all nicely lifted in this decidedly fragrant, mid-weight Barbaresco.
Deep ruby red with slightly brightening edges. Clear, very inviting nose, raspberry and eucalyptus candy openly escape from the glass, has fine spicy notes of vanilla in the background. Very full with a strongly balanced acid-tannin interplay, fruit - and fine-meshed, endlessly long, has great recognition potential.
Shows fragant raspberry, rose, wild herb, spice and tobacco aromas and flavors. Though elegant, this is solidly underlined by tannins. Fine lengh. Decant. Best from 2018 through 2030. 1,030 cases made.
The 2012 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a fascinating wine that really stands apart from its peers. I can't say htat everyone will love it, but ypu can't deny the originality and sheer character of this wine. There is an exotic element to the bouquet that comes off as clove, licorice and barbecue smoke. This is avery aromatic rendition of Nebbiolo. This year those opulent spice tones are more graceful and feminine.
Aromas of flower leaf, dried fruit and spice follow through to a full body with round, chewy tannins and a savory, tea, ginger and berry aftertaste. Tannic and structured. Better in 2017.
The 2011 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini shows more of the heat that defines this vintage. This Barbaresco is structured and firm with soft layers of Morello cherry, blackberry syrup, exotic spice, leather tar and road paving. The mouthfeel is soft and yielding with riper tannins and dark, fruity consistency. This Barbaresco will perform well during a near and medium-term drinking window
The 2011 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini shows more of the heat that defines this vintage. This Barbaresco is structured and firm with soft layers of Morello cherry, blackberry syrup, exotic spice, leather tar and road paving. The mouthfeel is soft and yielding with riper tannins and dark, fruity consistency. This Barbaresco will perfowm well during a near and medium-term drinking window. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Giorgio Ribetti this year at the Campe winery just outside the Grinzane Cavour castle. This gave me the opportunity to taste his fabulous 2005 Riservas from magnum (that will be released later this year in September) and a chance to catch up some back vintages. La Spinetta is synonymous with one of the most distinctive winemaking styles in the Langhe. The wines are easily identifiable in a blind tasting because, acroos the board, they offer a uniquely intense aromatic delivery. The bouquets on the 2013 wines are deeply fragant and fruity, the 2012 vintage is more integrated with spice and tobacco. The 2011 vintage is marked by profound balsam notes of cola, mint and medicinal herbs. These are extremely personalized wines.
The 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini sees fruit harvested from 30- to 35-year-old vines planted in the sandy soils of the Bordini cru of Neive. The first vintage produced was 2006. This wine is hugely aromatic with floral tones of pressed violets and lavender backed by garden herbs and mint. The long, menthol finish is divine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Giorgio Rivetti has unveiled a stunning line of new wines, and a few surprises as well, from his impeccable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzane Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo will only be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of theses special releases. Giorgio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for the making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shaped hill and is planted with 55-to 60-year-old Nebbiolo vines.
The 2009 Barbaresco Bordini is an attractive, entry-level wine from La Spinetta. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries mint and spices flesh out as the wine opens up in the glass. A juicy, radiant Barbaresco, the Bordini captures the best qualities of the eyar in its open personality. This is a relatively accessible, soft Barbaresco that will drink well with minimum cellaring. A final burst of sweet floral and spice-infused notes add complexity on the finish.
Very fresh aromas of roses and ripe fruits. Cedar too. Full to medium body. Starts off slowly and then ends with a chewy tannin and savory finish. Give it two or three.
The 2008 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is an attractive, relatively accessible Barbaresco laced with super-ripe red cherries, flowers and sweet spices. It shows good balance and an inviting personality, if not quite the pedigree of the 2007. The fruit dries out just a bit on the finish, exposing slight elements of dryness on the tannin. Anticipated maturity 2012-2018. This is a superb set of wines from Giorgio Rivetti. The 2008 Barbareschi are among the strongest wines of the year, while the 2007 Barolo Campe is the best wine to merge from Rivetti's vineyards in Grinzane Cavour. The La Spinetta style focusing on wines of great textural richness remains intact, but is dialed in to a greater degree with each passing vintage.
(Just the third vintage from these 30-year-old south-facing vines; aged in a few new barriques and the rest 600-liter barrels): Medium red. Dark berries, graphite, mint and violet on the fruity nose. Fresh, perfumed and energetic, with good cut to the dark berry, floral and tobacco flavors. The building tannins are firm and serious but not dry. Doesn't have quite body or power of Rivetti's other Barbarescos but made an elegant style. Rivetti says it's half the price of his other Barbarescos.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordiini is truly beautiful. A translucent red, the Bordini flows with the essence of crushed flowers, berries and sweet baking spices, all of which come together in a mid-weight frame. This shows lovely density and richness in a classy, understated style, with plenty of detail and a long, polished finish. As good as this is, I get the sense there is significant potential for this vineyard to produce even better wine. In 2007 the Bordini is a gem from La Spinetta.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is truly beautiful. A translucent red, the Bordini flows with the seence of crushed flowers, berries and sweet baking spices, all of which come together in a mid-weight frame. This shows lovely density and richness in a classy, understated style, with plenty of detail and a long, polished finish. As good as this is, I get the sense there is significant potential for this vineyard to produce even better wine. In 2007 the Bordini is a gem form La Spinetta. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
(from steep, south-facing 25-year-old vines in Nieve; Rivetti bought this vineyard in 2006; bottled in July of this year with Rivetti's 2007 Barbaresco) Medium red. Dried rose and marzipan on the nose. A sweet and creamy style of 2006, but with firm underlying tannic structured and a calcaire element giving a savory quality to the strawberry and mineral flavors. Finishes with big, broad serious tannins. Complex rather than powerful, but there's no shortage of grip here. A very elegant style. Rivetti's kept this longer in oak (new and once-used barriques) because it was a new wine for him and he wanted to see how it evolved.
A gorgeous wine, vivid and nuanced with sensual aromas of redcurrant, plum, earth, herbs, spices and flowers (rose petals, lavender). On the palate, this top Barbaresco reveals a round, dense texture with a classically dry finish and ripe tannins that dust the front teeth. Sometimes a bit shy at first, Gallina is often considered the most age-worthy of the three top La Spinetta Barbaresco wines, truly blossoming after a bit of time in the cellar. This pretty wine has an aging potential of at least 25-30 years and is ideal paired with grilled food, and rich meat dishes.
A medium ruby red hue, the 2022 Barbaresco Gallina has pretty and refined layers that start to unfold in the glass with notes of cinnamon, bright red berries, currants, sweet tangerine citrus, and floral perfume. The palate is linear and focused, with fine tannins, ripe acidity, and notes of dusty earth on the finish. It’s a very pretty wine out of the gate and should drink well over the next 12-15 years.
Very fragrant and bright with stem, plum and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, firm and racy tannins and a vivid finish. Chewy and polished. Shows focus and precision at the finish. Lovely balance. Best in a long time.
Bright ruby in color, the 2021 Barbaresco Gallina is a step above and a head-turner in the range. It leaps from the glass with notes of wild strawberries, candied oranges, dried earth, and fresh herbs. The palate reveals more grip and tension in the structure, with a weightless feel, a mineral texture, light sweet oak spices, and a long finish. It will do well to cellar a few years and drink 2026-2046.
Showing a medium-dark ruby color, the La Spinetta 2021 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù has a pretty bouquet with aromas of fresh raspberry, tar and dark licorice. The wine initially offers pretty good definition and precision, but it grows even more linear and vertical as it opens in the glass. This is an organic production.
The 2021 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is bold, heady and effusive. A rush of dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, licorice and mocha builds effortlessly. The Gallina offers tons of immediacy. It can be deceivingly approachable in the early going, but it has always aged very well.
This red starts out with balsamic aromas of eucalyptus, juniper, sage and broom, giving way to flavors of cherry, black currant, pomegranate and earth. Muscular, with beefy tannins and a long, savory finish. Best from 2027 through 2045. 500 cases made.
Ripe raspberries and cherries with flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with firm and chewy tannins that are fine-textured with a long and focused finish. Needs three or four years to come together. Pretty.
The 2020 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is terrific. Brilliant and focused, with mid-weight depth, the 2020 impresses with its poise more than anything else. All the elements are so well balanced. Dried flowers, spice, herbs, mint and licorice open with a bit of coaxing. As is often the case, the Gallina is quite understated in feel.
The La Spinetta 2020 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù (with the green label and heavy bottle) has a slightly sweet side that is reinforced by the warm sunshine of the summer season but also from the oak aging. It goes into barrique for 22 months. There is ripe cherry and cassis along with spice and cured tobacco. The wine is open-knit and quite accessible in terms of mouthfeel. This Barbaresco is pretty much ready to drink straight out of the gate.
From one of the historic crus of the municipality of Neive, a Barbaresco of structure and finesse. Blueberries on the nose, with balsamic touches of eucalyptus and licorice. Savory-salty tannins on the palate, nice persistence with balsamic return.
A tight and structured young Barbaresco with red fruits, crushed stone, ash and slate in the nose and palate. Medium-to full-bodied. Polished and chewy with a solid finish at the end. Needs three or four years to soften but very well done.
The 2019 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is a beautiful wine with delicate aromas of forest fruit, cassis, spice, earthy truffle and grilled herb. This tight, lean-bodied wine (in a heavy glass bottle) has firm tannins and a very long, elegant finish.
The 2019 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is an elegant, nuanced wine. Crushed flowers, mint, sweet red cherry, kirsch, sweet French oak and incense all grace this silky, understated Barbaresco. Gallina is often quite forthcoming, but the 2019 is more classically austere in bearing. I suspect it will age well, but there is less immediate charm than in most years.
Aromatic, this red features raspberry, cherry, floral, iron, tar and tobacco aromas and flavors. A dense matrix of tannins lends support and this cruises to a lingering aftertaste. Shows fine harmony and potential. Best from 2026 through 2045. 500 cases made, 45 cases imported.
From the south-facing slope in Nieve, the 2018 Barbaresco Gallina Versu was aged for 20-22 months in French oak, of which 20% was new and the remainder second-use. This wine has an incredible lifted perfume of crushed roses, candied raspberry, cedar, and menthol. Polished, with pure and confected cherry fruit on the palate, its tannins take a long time to emerge and show the wines structure, which is warming with baking spice. Drink 2024-2042.
With fruit from Neive, the La Spinetta 2018 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is packaged in a heavy glass bottle. The wine is extremely polished and tight, especially at this young stage, with a pretty assembly of wild berry, grilled herb, blue flower and crushed stone. What's terrific here is that no element is out of place. These different characteristics all work together to create lasting balance, and I'm sure that this sensation will only become more evident as the wine takes on more bottle age.
This fruit-forward Barbaresco offers flavors of juicy dark cherry and raspberry woven with notes of cedar and anise. The fruit tones turn darker with air, taking on shades of cola and cherry pit as the fruit fights through the angular tannins. Decant before serving to give all of the elements time to knit together.
A beautiful, focused red with intensity and brilliance, showing cherry, watermelon, truffle and mushroom aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and refined. Long finish. Try after 2023.
La Spinetta's 2017 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù draws its fruit from a site in Neive with old vines. Intensity and richness are two qualities often associated with the wine made at this historic estate. A rotofermenter is used during winemaking to increase color concentration and richness, although its use is carefully measured and calculated says Giorgio Rivetti. The house style embraces barrique aging, and you get some soft spice and spent ember as a result. The 2017 vintage is distinguished by extra tightness, and you sense that in this wine.
Wow. This is at once a pronounced and vibrant nose, revealing wild strawberries, peaches, freshly picked raspberries, cinnamon, rose petals and stems. I love the steely tannins on the palate, which carve out an iron fist of fruit, but also a generous and velvety texture. Long and intense on the finish. Drink in 2024.
Supremely elegant and light on its feet, La Spinetta Barbaresco Gallina is simply fabulous. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spice and a touch of French oak add nuance to a core of sweet red/purplish berry fruit. Wonderfully supple and ract, the Gallina captures every bit of the potential 2016 had to offer. This is such a gorgeous wine. I can't remenber tasting a Gallina here with this much diversity.
A mix of black currant and cherry fruit runs through this linear red, with notes of juniper, eucalyptus and pine. Firmly structured, with a long aftertaste of tobacco and earth. Best from 2023 through 2042.
The 2016 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is a streamlined wine that brings less to the table in terms of richness but more in terms of intensity and structure. The tannins here are well integrated, and there are some light notes of spice and tobacco, but this beautiful Nebbiolo still has a way to go. This vintage should look forward to aging gracefully. The wine ages in oak for 22 months. Production is ample with 10,500 bottles made.
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is absolutely gorgeous. Vivid and nuanced on the palate, the 2015 is fresh, juicy and flat-out delicious. The Gallina is often a shy wine that needs time in bottle to truly blossom, but the 2015 seems to have skipped that initial phase of reticence. In two separate tastings, the 2015 has been incredibly sensual and polished. Historically, the Gallina has the most consistent track record in aging of the three top Barbarescos in the range. It will be interesting to see if that is the case here as well. For now, the 2015 Gallina is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta.
This is a big and juicy Barbaresco with soft and velvety tannins and a full body. Lots of dried flowers and fruit at the finish. Needs four or five years of bottle age. Try in 2022.
This aromatic red displays floral, berry, juniper and graphite notes, underlined by severe tannins that tip the balance toward the dry side. Shows purity, but needs time for the tannins to resolve. Best from 2023 through 2040, 79 cases imported.
Ripeness, or over-ripeness to be more specific, is a problem across the board with the Barbaresco wines from this vintage. The team at La Spinetta has expertly faced the problem. The 2015 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù does indeed show a dark, more exuberant quality of fruit, but the wine never loses sight of its inner elegance and grace. Instead, the fruit's maturity and sweetness is played out in terms of the thick layering and density that is very apparent to the palate.
This is a beautiful wine and one that I preferred (ever so slightly) over the Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù of the same vintage. The 2014 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is especially elegant and fine, rendering the idea that its future evolution has a long way to go. That profound elegance continues to the palate where the wine wraps softly over the senses. That fine, but equally powerful nature of the wine's textural richness is what stands out most here. The mouthfeel is just fantastic.
La Spinetta's 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is super-polished and refined. Sweet floral notes meld crystalline bright red stone fruit in a mid-weight, nuanced Barbaresco long on polish and class. Rose petal, bright red stone fruit, French oak and mint overtones develop nicely in the glass. The 2014 finishes with terrific energy and a sense of classic Nebbiolo austerity that is one of the signatures of the vintage. Historically, Gallina is the least impressive of the Spinetta Barbarescos, and yet it has proven to have the most consistent track record of aging.
Macerated cherry, plum and spice aromas and flavors are allied to eucalyptus, menthol, saline and mineral elements. Taut and tannic, with a lingering, vibrant finish echoing the fruit and underbrush notes. Best from 2022 through 2033.
Sweet plums and hints of flowers on the nose. Smoked meat, too. Medium body, pretty silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
The 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is a great introduction to the vintage at La Spinetta. Gallina tends to give open, soft Barbarescos that drink well young. Not here. The 2013 is unusually bright, tense and focused for this wine, with darker fruit and more tightly wound personality than I am used to seeing. Dark red cherry, mint, wild flowers and spices come together, but the 2013 is going to need time to fully come together. Even today, though, it is striking. There is a spherical breadth to the 2013 that is impossible to miss.
Aromas of orange peel, fresh tobacco leaf and dark berry follow through to a full body, round and velvety tannins and a nutty finish. Lots of cedar too. Gorgeous. Drink or hold.
The 2013 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù offers a tight brickwork of aromas with toned muscle and solid build at the back. The bouquet shows profound tones of dark fruit, spice, leather, tobacco, crushed stone and tar. La Spinetta's signature style, with more pronounced aromas, is very much on display in this wine.
Aromatic, with rose, cherry and black currant notes matched to an elegant frame. Though firm and linear, the finish is long and detailed. Decant now for several hours or age for two to three years. Best from 2018 through 2030.
Underbrush, dried rose, aromatic herb and a balsamic note of menthol slowly take shape. The full-bodied palate offers French oak, licorice, espresso, raspberry jam and mint alongside aggressive, somewhat grainy, tannins that leave a bracing finish. Drink 2019–2028.
Crazy aromas of Indian spices and fresh herbs with an undertone of ripe plums. Full body, round tannins and rich, delicious palate. Shows so much beauty and lengh. Needs two to three years to soften, but already decadent and seductive.
The 2012 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is a gorgeous expression that marches to the beat of its own drum (as do all of Giorgio Rivetti's fascinating wines). The wine delivers intensity, density and freshness in equal measure throughout its balanced presentation. The perfumed bouquet offers dark fruit and dried cherry with subtle touches of cinnamon and dark cola in a background role.
Powerful and rich, featuring black cherry and plum fruit allied to dense tannins. Vibrant, with a long, energetic finish. Best from 2018 through 2028. 950 cases made.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 2011 Barbaresco Gallina is fabulous. It has many of the same tonalities of fruit and overall personality as the 2010, but with more richness, volume and depth, all signatures of the vintage. Sweet red berries, rose petals, flowers of all kinds, mint and sweet spices are all woven togehter in a wine of notable class. Elegant and finessed all the way, the 2011 Gallina is impressive from the very first taste. The long silky finish is laced with exotic floral and spice nuances, all of which add intrigue.
Lots of ripe red fruit, dried flowers and some fresh roses. Full body with ripe fruit and peach undertone. Fine tannins and a long finish. Very polished and delicious. Better in 2016.
The La Spinetta 2011 Barbaresco Gallina Vursu is a gorgeous expression that embrances the fullest, most generous and abundant side of the Nebbiolo grape. This warm vintage Barbaresco pushes all of the right buttons. The wine excels in terms of texture and intensity. Candied cherry and blackberry syrup emerge from the nose with dark spice, leather and moist chewing tobacco. The wine is polished and fine in terms of texture and elegant tertiary notes are already showing beautififully. This is a standout Barbaresco.
This is succulent, featuring frank, earthy, minerally elements that buoy the cherry and strawberry flavors. Combines elegance and tensile strengh, with black tea and iron accents gracing the finish. Best from 2017 through 2025. 950 cases made.
A Barbaresco that shows unique dried-fruit and warm-stone aromas, like a warm summer afternoon in the vineyards. Full body with velvety tannins and fresh acidity. It's long and intense. Lots going on here. Powerful. One of the best Gallinas ever form here. Better in 2018, but wonderful to taste now.
The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina comes from the low-yield producing old wines in Nieve. The wine is immensely pleasurable and bright with beautiful aromatics intensity that shines bright from the glass. Only 900 cases are produced. This vineyard expression offers notable freshness and brightness that make it suitable for long cellar aging. This is a truly magnificient wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. Giorgio Rivetti has unveiled a stuning line of new wines, and a few surprises as well, from his impeccable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzale Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo willonly be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of these special releases. Giorgio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shaped hill and is planted with 55- to 60- year-old Nebbiol vines.
A sweet, floral bouquet leads to expressive layers of fruit in the 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina. There is an immediacy to the Gallina that is quite appealing. White fruffles, red berries and spices emerge over time, adding further complexity. I am surprised by how ell the 2009 is showing today, even if it starts to shut down a bit in the glass. The tannins are firm, yet there is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine's frame. This is one of the better young Gallinas I remember tasting. A rich, textured finish rounds things out in style. There is a lot to like and love in the Gallina. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
A sweet , floral bouquet leads to expressive layers of fruit in the 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina. There is an immediacy to the Gallina that is quite appealing. White truffles, red berries and spices emerge over time, adding further complexity. I am surprised by how well the 2009 is showing today, even if it starts to shut down a bit in the glass. The tannins are firm, yet there is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine's frame. This is one of the better young Gallinas I remenber tasting. A rich, texture finish rounds things out in style. There is a lot to like and love in the Gallina.
Always rose petal aromas with dark fruit and plums. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a beautiful finish. Refined and sexy. Better after 2015.
Good full red. Ripe cherry, redcurrant, mocha, spices and flowers on the nose. Velvety, plum and spicy, with rich plum and currant fruit flavors accented by the note of tobacco. Finishes fine and long, with a burst of ripe tannins. "Always to drink earlier than the Starderi and Valeirano," says Rivetti.
Ripe and exotic flavors of blueberry, black currant and spice lead off, backed by firm, dry tannins. The finish is astringent, but there's sweet fruit and richness that may offset the structure in time. Best from 2016 through 2027. 956 cases made.
The 2008 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina bursts from the glass with a rush of dark fruit. This is one of the more reticent, powerful Gallinas I can remember tasting from La Spinetta. Dark flowers, mint, tar, licorice and French oak are some of the notes that resonate on the explosive finish. This is a wine that will require patience, but it is impressive for its completeness, something I haven’t always been able to say about this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
The 2008 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina bursts from the glass with a rush of dark fruit. This is one of the more reticent, powerful Gallinas I can remember tasting from La Spinetta. Dark flowers, mint, tar, licorice and French oak are some of the notes that resonate on the explosive finish. This is a wine that will require patience, but it is impressive for its completeness, something I haven't always been able to say about this wine.
Ripe fruit aromas and flavors of blueberry and boysenberry are accented by flowers and Asian spices in this exotic red. The tannins are stiff on the finish, but be patient, this is lively indeed. Best from 2015 through 2028. 950 cases made.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is focused and nicely articulated. This is a rather firm, nuanced Gallina from La Spinetta with gorgeous length, tons of detail and fabulous overall balance. It is at once more concentrated and also deeper than the Bordini, so another few years in bottle seem a prerequisite. The Gallina is the most improved wine the estate's lineup. The 2007 is quite possibly the most polished, elegant Gallina I have ever tasted here.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is focused and nicely articulated. This is a rather firm, nuanced Gallina from La Spinetta with gorgeous length, tons of detail and fabulous overall balance. It is at once more concentrated and also deeper than the Bordini, so another few years in bottle seem a prerequisite. The Gallina is the most improved wine the estate’s lineup. The 2007 is quite possibly the most polished, elegant Gallina I have ever tasted here. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.
There are some wild notes here, but overall it's the licorice, plum, tar and savory flavors that make this appealing. Firm and tight, with a layer of stern tannins, this is set to age well. Best from 2015 through 2028.
A fabulous nose of Christmas pudding, plum and lemongrass leads to a full body, with soft, silky tannins and beautiful fruit. Best after 2012.
The 2006 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina opens with sexy, super-ripe aromas that continue on to the palate, where the wine reveals a gorgeous core of ripe red fruit. This is an especially elegant Gallina with tons of length and a finessed close. The 2006 Gallina will be hard to resist in its youth, but in a few years’ time the tannins should soften a touch, bringing the wine into even better balance. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.
The 2006 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina opens with sexy, super-ripe aromas that continue on to the palate, where the wine reveals a gorgeous core of ripe red fruit. This is an especially elegant Gallina with tons of length and a finessed close. The 2006 Gallina will be hard to resist in its youth, but in a few years' time the tannins should soften a touch, bringing the wine into even better balance.
Love the aromas of dried mushrooms, lemons and plums. Full-bodied, with velvety, ripe tannins and a fruity, long finish. Also tannic – needs some bottle age. Remarkably concentrated.
Complex aromas of plum, citrus fruit and dried mushroom follow through to a full body, with ripe, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. This is tannic as well. So give it some bottle age. Has impressive concentration. Best after 2012.
The 2005 Barbaresco Gallina has developed lovely tertiary notes since I last tasted it a few years back. Leather, smoke, tobacco, licorice and game meld into a core of intense dark fruit. As it so often does, the Gallina has a way of putting on considerable weight in bottle. The 2005 is now close to fully mature, and, while there is no upside in holding bottles further, the wine has enough depth to hold on for at least another handful of years.
Vigneto Gallina is a refined and elegant wine that boldly unveils a determined personality and specific aromas of spice, black fruit, licorice and a touch of smoked bacon. The wine is compact and fresh with lingering tones of smoke and berry fruit and an extra long finish.
The 2005 Barbaresco Gallina is an especially successful wine in this vintage. A soft, caressing core of fruit provides striking balance to the wine’s tannins. Notes of super-ripe red cherries, sweet herbs, roses and toasted oak emerge from this medium-bodied Barbaresco. As is usually the case, the Gallina is the most forward of the Spinetta Barbarescos, and this is a beautiful effort, particularly in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.
Intense aromas of fresh mushroom turn to blackberry and plum, even meadow flowers. Full-bodied, big and soft, with loads of fruit and character. Caresses the palate. Best after 2012. 960 cases made.
Good medium red. Sexy, complex aromas of strawberry liquor, raspberry, iris, truffle, chocolate, mocha and menthol. Suave on entry, then full, lush, sweet and seamless in the middle palate, with subtle floral lift contribuiting to the impressin of definition. Strong in extract and quite fine-grained in spite of its thickness. Finishes impressively long, with very suave tannins.
The 2004 Barbaresco Gallina opens with the hallmark Spinetta super-ripe aromatics. Unlike past recent vintages, it has plenty of stuffing to fill out its frame, with generous sweet fruit, spices, coffee beans and truffles that flow from the glass. It offers outstanding persistence and a long, caressing finish, even if it isn't as vibrant as the estate's other 2004 Barbarescos. It should be the first wine of these 2004 Barbarescos to reach maturity. This is a terrific effort from Rivetti. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016. This is very strong set of releases from La Spinetta and propietor Giorgio Rivetti. The 2004 Barbarescos are easilty the best of his career. The wines still see 100% new French oak, but toast levels have been reduced and the Barbarescos now spend 12 months in oak rather than the 18 months they saw in previous vintages. Both changes have had a remarkably positive effect in allowing more site-specific character and Nebbiolo fruit to come through. The 2003 Barolo Campe shows that Rivetti is makning important strides with this wine as well. Only the 2005 Barberas are dissappointing, but that is not entirely surprising given the uneven growing season. In the past La Spinetta was an estate that relied just as much on style as substance. The 2004 Barbarescos, and specilly the Standeri, are the first wines that truly live up to the glamorous image that Giorgio Rivetti has masterfully succeeded in creating.
Rich, dark garnet red; opens with slightly mineral notes, full of cranberries, some white truffle, clear and with a lot of fruit; delights on the palate with a lot of full tannin, sweet core, musky, only slightly drying out in the finale.
Intense aromas of meat, berry and spices follow through to full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a long finish. This is a very rich and powerful. Needs loads of time. Big one. Best after 2008. 350 cases made.
(from a vineyard in Barbaresco) Medium red. Reticent but sweet aromas of cherry, marzipan and spicy oak, with underlying minerality giving the nose a coolness. Then complex, aromatic and pungent on the palate, with a restrained sweetnes, sappy acids and excellent concentration. A classic in the modern style, finishing with very broad, suave tannins, excellent density and a note of tobacco. This really calls for five years or so of patience. Seems a bit less dominanted by oak than some recent vintages of this bottling.
Wonderful bright fruit, with hints of minerals and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, long finish. Concentrated and powerful, showing layers and layers of fruit and tannins. The best I have had from this fanstastic winemaker. Best after 2009. 1,125 cases made.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
As for the other magnum Riservas, grapes for the Barbaresco Riserva Gallina magnum come exclusively from the highest part of the Gallina vineyard, an ideal location for the sustainably-farmed vines, free of pesticides, herbicides and any heavy machinery that might interfere with the purity of the vineyard and grapes. The bouquet of this exclusive wine is dense and velvety, loaded with chocolate, berries and spice. In the mouth, the wine is tense and full-bodied with a beautiful blueberry, spice and mineral character. Polished and chewy tannins give way to a long and flavorful finish. Released 10 years after harvest.
The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina remains pretty potent, almost uncharacteristically so for La Spinetta's softest Barbaresco. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, leather, tobacco and torrefaction notes inform this decidedly muscular Barbaresco. From magnum, I would still give this more time. The long, substantial finish is pretty remarkable for a ten year-old wine.
The 2012 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina (Magnum) has aged quite well. Medium in body, with fine detail, the 2012 is impeccably balanced from start to finish. Pretty floral and spice notes play off a core of dark red-toned fruit. There's more oak flavor and tannin than the wines of today, but this is very good.
La Spinetta's 2010 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina (Magnum) is still very young! Dark and sumptuous, the Gallina is a powerful wine. Ripe black cherry, dried herbs, spice, licorice and sweet new oak lend an extic flair. The Galina is always so intersting; it is the most understated of the three Barbarescos on release, and also the wine that ages the best. The 2010 has plenty of the flamboyence of this era at La Spinetta. It will drink beautifully for another decade or more.
The La Spinetta 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina Vürsù (Magnum) is only made in large-format bottles and is released 10 years after the harvest. The Gallina cru is known for its balanced and fruit-forward wines that don't shy away in terms of structure. This release offers tight textural stitching with interwoven layers of dark fruit, spice, savory licorice, smoke and campfire ash. The tannins, both from the fruit and oak, already show full integration at this point.
The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina (magnum) is powerful, dense and explosive. As it always does, the Gallina puts on a ton of weight in the bottle. Black cherry, plum, smoke, cedar, chocolate, spice and leather give the 2009 a real felling of breadth and pure power. Plush, silky and flamboyant, the 2009 is gorgeous today, and has another decade plus of fine drinking still to offer. The dense, extracted style, the hallmark of a previous era at La Spinetta, is evident.
The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina (magnum) is in a great spot for the drinking now. If anything, it is still too young. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, spice and menthol all flesh out in this decidedly virile, imposing Barbaresco. The oak remains present, and yet the 2008 is aging very, very gracefully, especially for such a big wine. But that is not entirely surprising, as the Gallina has always aged the best of the three La Spinetta Barbarescos. This is an impressive showing.
This is a neat little package - or big package, the case of this wine, because it is only magnum - with ripe, raisiny intensity and black fruit written all over it. It should be noted that the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina (Magnum) drifts a little flat and soft in the mouth at the moemnt, even after signifcant time in glass, but that almost seems irrelevant compared to the long-term picture here. This Riserva, built for the very long haul, promises to impress with its evolved floral and earthy tones that come through with clarity. The wine sees nearly three years of oak aging. A mere 600 magnum bottles were produced.
Only in the best vintages, La Spinetta releases magnum-only editions of its top wines. These wines are generally released ten years after the harvest following additional bottle aging (and one extra year of oak) under the most stringent conditions back at the winery. This year, one of these absolute gems is the 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina (Magnum). I am a huge fan of the sheer elegance produced in this vineyard. This quality has been harnessed to perfection in the case of this wine. It is beautifully evolved, long and silky. Yet, the primary fruit sings loudest of all. This is a delightful achievement.
Amazing aromas of dried strawberry, leather and cedar. Shaved pencil. Perfumed. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a silky, refined finish. So right now. 1,000 magnums made.
Tasted from magnum, the 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina Vürsù will be released in September 2016. This is a spectacular wine that is aging very slowly, especially in this big bottle format. The Gallina vineyard consistently delivers a deeply fruit-forward profile and you definitely recognize that here. Despite its age, this Barbaresco offers a surprisingly fresh bouquet that is complex and nuanced at the same time. The mouthfeel is characterized by crunchy tannins and crisp freshness.
The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina (magnum) has come together beautifully since it was bottled. The tannins have begun to soften, while the flavors are just now beginning to show the first signs of tertiary complexity. Hints of tobacco, new leather, spices and menthol wrap around the fruit-driven finish.
This is very racy and linear in a fantastic sense. It's racy and silky with a beautiful backbone of tannins and fresh acidity, but it's dense and sexy with all the dried-strawberry, mineral and cedar character you could hope for. Magnums only. A triumph.
This wine was tasted in a magnum. The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Gallina offers sheer delight and power. The fine intensity and pristine quality of the bouquet could make you think the wine is younger than it really is. Smoked ham, licorice, dried flowers, rosehip, anise seed and balsam notes all stand to attention. The wine has evolved gracefully these past years and promises to continue down its glorious path. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.
The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina (magnum) is beautiful. Sweet herbs, menthol, tobacco, cinnamon, plums and red cherries wrap around the palate in a super-sexy, luscious Barbaresco loaded with personality. Tasted from magnum, the 2004 Riserva has barely budged. Readers lucky enough to own the magnums can look forward to another decade plus of exceptional drinking. The 2004 recalls a period in La Spinetta' s history when the wines were oakier, but now, after some years in bottle, all of the elements have come together nicely. A burst of super-ripe, opulent fruit rounds out the perfumed finish in this dazzling Barbaresco from La Spinetta.
Lovely aromas of berry, plum and hints of new wood follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long finish. Refined and well done. 1,200 magnums made. Best after 2007. 200 cases made.
The 2001 Barbaresco Riserva Gallina, a rich dark ruby, opens with a beautiful floral nose accented by subtle hints of white truffle and earthiness. It is ripe and sweet on the palate, showing good depth as well as complexity, with a somewhat attenuated finish and youthful, firm tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015.
The Starderi represents another top Barbaresco wine in the La Spinetta line-up, from the Starderi vineyard in Nieve. Elegant, refined aromatics of red-toned fruit, flowers and mint integrate with firm acidity and serious tannins, providing a sound structural backbone to the wine. Aged in new, medium-toast French barriques, the oak will fully integrate with time, as will the youthful tannins. This is a sophisticated and concentrated Barbaresco whose bright citrus and floral notes add a finishing touch and give something to look forward to.
The 2022 Barbaresco Starderi Vursu is medium ruby in color. It has a deeper aromatic profile, with elegantly layered notes of incense, anise, black raspberries, and hints of campfire and woodsy earth. It has a broader feel on the palate, with ripe, expanding tannins, medium body, and a more earthy finish. It is a surprising wine with a more savory feel and will benefit from more time to soften its structure. Drink 2027-2040.
Top 100 Wines of Italy 2024 (#68) - Strawberry, peach and fresh pink rose aromas. Some hibiscus as well. Full-bodied and very layered with gorgeous tannins that are soft and creamy in texture yet compacted and focused. Best after 2028 but already so beautiful to taste.
The 2021 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is one of the classiest wines I have tasted from La Spinetta. Vibrant and poised, with striking beauty, the 2021 is wonderfully vivid in the glass. Crushed rose petal, spice, mint, orange peel and cinnamon all soar out of the glass. Brisk acids
The organic La Spinetta 2021 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù is a very pretty wine, and I prefer it to the Gallina and the Valeriano. It stands out for its medium-rich density and spicy concentration with layers of dark fruit and blackberry preserves. The quality of the fruit is very dense and rich, and the wine offers sharp definition. With time, it develops a dark, smoky side with cumin and barbecue spice.
A mix of savory and fruity, this red embraces rose hip, cherry, raspberry, juniper, eucalyptus and iron flavors in its silky texture. Well-structured, too, yet overall expresses finesse, with a terrific, persistent aftertaste. Shows impressive harmony and complexity. Best from 2027 through 2043.
The 2020 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi turned out beautifully. Bright and focused, with tremendous purity, the 2020 impresses from the very first taste. Crushed flowers, sweet, red-toned fruit, mint, blood orange and bright saline notes race across the palate.
Very floral with both fresh and dried flowers on the nose as well as cherries and hibiscus with some sliced strawberries. Medium to full body, with well-integrated tannins and a long and focused finish. Give this three or four years to come together.
With the red label, the La Spinetta 2020 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù shows dark fruit, dried cherry and tarry smoke. There is a savory side to Starderi, and the wine delivers extra density and concentration to the finish. Like some of the other expressions from the warm 2020 growing season, this wine is more immediate overall, making it good for near and medium-term drinking. But it should also age nicely, should you decide to take that route.
Top 100 Wines of Italy - #67. Beautiful aromas of plums and violets with some flint. Full-bodied. Layered and softly chewy. Meat, berry and hints of cedar and nutmeg. Flavorful finish. Solid and very together with a softness at the back of the palate. Drink in 2026 and beyond.
From Starderi vineyard, located in Neive municipality, a vigorous Barbaresco, characterized by a great gustatory and olfactory balance. Nose of wild plum, then leech peel and closure of geranium. Mouthfeel with salty-sapid tannins, fruity-citrus finish
The 2019 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is terrific. Vertical and focused, the Starderi impresses with its energy, cut and drive. There's perhaps a bit less heft than in most years, but that is not a bad thing. Dark red cherry, raspberry, lavender and sage lend quite a bit of complexity to this substantial Barbaresco from La Spinetta. It will be interesting to see if the 2019 fleshes out with bottle age.
The La Spinetta 2019 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù is perfumed and bright with dark rose and wild plum. The wine is solid and dense, with a pretty presentation of fruit that feels healthy and crunchy at the same time. The tannins are well integrated into this structured, full-bodied Barbaresco. The Starderi has shown a very consistent performance over the years. These releases from La Spinetta are all packaged in big, heavy glass bottles.
A powerful red, yet well-defined too, with strawberry, cherry, floral, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors aligned to a muscular structure. Feels balanced overall, yet will take a few years to fully integrate. Best from 2026 through 2045. 580 cases made, 45 cases imported.
Starderi faces southwest, with greater exposure to the moderating influence of the Tanaro River. There are more spiced aromas in the 2018 Barbaresco Starderi Versu, including aniseed, white pepper, dried cherry, and fresh leather. The palate is incredibly long and inviting, with black raspberry, baking spice, and tea leaf. Drink 2022-2045.
Roses, dried fruit, hazelnuts and some spices on the nose. Full-bodied with very creamy tannins that are polished and beautiful. This is very structured and needs time to soften, but beautiful and solid. Try after 2024.
Another especially elegant expression from La Spinetta, the 2018 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù demonstrates how well this winery worked in this slightly cooler growing season. All the wines across this portfolio appear bright and more ethereal, representing a subtle pivot for proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and his crew. Dried cassis, limestone and crushed flowers emerge from the bouquet, and the wine imparts a lasting and highly polished mouthfeel.
This is dense and tight with layers of berry, dried orange-peel, meat and chocolate character, yet ever so refined and complex. Full-bodied with firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Give it three or four years to come around. Try in 2024.
The 2017 Barbaresco Starderi offers up its signature red/purplish fruit with soft contours and a bit less heft than is typical, all of which makes it more approachable than the norm for this Neive Barbaresco. In 2017, the Starderi is bold, lush and easy to enjoy, even now as a young wine. Rose petal, mint and a kick of new French oak punctuates the finish.
The La Spinetta 2017 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù stands out for its grace and elegance in this vintage. The 2017 growing season was not an easy one, with April hail in Neive followed by a scorching hot summer that further reduced yields and forced stringent quality selections at the sorting table. The Starderi site is planted to 55- to 65-year-old vines, and you do feel extra fruit richness and concentration as a result. Dark fruit, wild plum and dried blackberry segue to spice and campfire ash on this barrique-aged Nebbiolo.
The 2016 Barbaresco Starderi is outrageously beautiful. Dense, powerful and rich, the 2016 races out of the glass with huge fruit to match its classically mid-weight profile. Super-ripe red/purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice and mint play off huge tannins with real grace. Readers have to be patient, but the 2016 Starderi is a rock star wine. That's pretty much all there is to it.
Raspberry coulis, dried red plums, vanilla, cedar and spice box make for a pronounced and beguiling nose. Full-bodied and very powerful on the palate, yet the tannins are polished and the acidity focused and refreshing. Drink in 2023.
The 2016 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù starts with a no-nonsense obscure color and ends with lots of dark fruit on the close. In between, it shows a spot of bitterness on the tongue, delivered with ripe fruit and some rather tight tannins. There are lots of tar notes here too, along with the sort of resin and camphor ash you might not have been expecting from such a youthful Barbaresco. But this one has a heavy center of gravity and is not to be trifled with. It's a big and bold wine that demands a rare cut of beef. Some 14,500 bottles were made.
A muscular style, whose dense tannins uphold flavors of cherry, currant, earth and wild thyme. Compact and chunky, with a light chewy quality to the finish. Best from 2023 through 2042.
The 2015 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù is a wine of towering stature, girth and power. The wine's tannic presence is very evident, and that undeniable structure is broad and underlying. I would suggest putting this bottle aside for at least five more years before popping the cork. The beauty here is that the tannins are integrated and never astringent. Instead, they act like a corset that ties the wine together in all the right places.
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi rounds out this series of Barbarescos from La Spinetta in grand style. I don't think the Starderi has ever been so elegant or refined as it is in 2015. Medium in body and translucent, the 2015 possesses remarkable purity and nuance in its red-toned fruit and floral aromatics. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but readers should not be planning on opening bottles anytime soon, as the youthful tannins are also imposing. Bright citrus and floral notes add the closing flourishes.
This is decadent and very rich with plum and caramel character, as well as fresh flowers. Medium-bodied, tight and focused with a pretty center palate of dark fruit and linear, chewy tannins. Drink in 2020.
Mint, eucalyptus, juniper, floral, plum and raspberry flavors grace this velvety red. Firm, ending with a dense swath of tannins on the finish. A distinctive style, yet remains complex and long, balanced on the tannic side. Best from 2024 through 2039
The 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is deep, powerful and intense, as it usually is, with soaring aromatics, bright red stone fruit and huge beams of tannin that give the wine its vertical spine. The tannins are naturally going to need time to soften, but there is plenty to look forward to. The Starderi is the most explosive and searing of these Barbarescos from La Spinetta, but it nevertheless offers considerable appeal. Patience is key.
Following the Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù, the 2014 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù represents a clear step up in terms of intensity and structure. If the Gallina is about elegance and finesse, this wine is about brawn, personality and volume. Again, if we focus on mouthfeel alone, this Barbaresco delivers an etched and firm tannic structure that runs straight down the backbone of this wine. Yet, the wine is also composed and still at this moment in time. You get the feeling that the real action will start a few years from now.
A core of black cherry is accented by eucalyptus, juniper, wild rosemary and stony, chalky notes in this tightly wound red. Offers a firm tannic backbone, offset by plenty of sweet fruit. The long finish indicates potential. Best from 2022 through 2035.
The 2013 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù is an elegant and polished wine with a deep sense of persistence and length. The wine delivers a tight embroidery of aromas that span from dark fruit to spice, to ethereal notes of balsam herb and cola. It runs the full spectrum. That feeling of wholeness and balance is also evident in the mouth. This Barbaresco reaches impeccable balance between its solid fruit flavors, its acidity and the determined firmness of its structure.
La Spinetta fans won't want to miss the 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi, but readers will have to be patient, as the Starderi is going to need time. The only question is how much. Classic bright red fruit notes typical of Starderi are matched by equally characteristic, imposing tannins that need time to soften. Linear, taut and pulsing with energy, the 2013 is full of potential for those who can wait.
This is extremely floral with ripe fruit and spices underneath. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful, juicy and delicious finish. Lots of walnut undertones. Drink or hold.
A rich style, exhibiting cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus, tobacco and tea flavors. Initially savory and tannic, with air this becomes more harmonious. Fine length. Best from 2018 through 2030.
A solid wine for the vintage with blueberry, rose-leaf and fresh-herb aromas and flavors. Full body with firm, chewy tannins and a long, structured finish. Needs at least three to four years to soften. Give it time.
Muscular and fully loaded, the 2012 Barbaresco Starderi Vursu delivers a solid and ample bouquet that is built upon generous fruit, spice, licorice and balsam herb. The wine's brawny personality is different from the Barbaresco Valeirano that is more seductive and feminine in personality. Starderi shows brawn and feistiness.
So earthy and decadent with foie gras, nut and dark fruit. Full body, round tannins and lots of juicy fruit. You just want to drink this. Drink or hold.
The 2011 Barbaresco Starderi is just as gorgeous today as it was the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Dark raspberry, plums, cinnamon, wild flowers and rose petals meld together nicely in the glass. The 2011 is deep, pliant and expressive, with lovely depth and plenty of texture. Power and intensity are the signatures of Starderi, but in this vintage the wines leans more towards the weightless end of the spectrum.
Dark in color and rich in appearance, the 2011 Basbaresco Starderi Vursu is another gorgeous rendition in the La Spinetta Vursu line. Vursu is locale dialect for something that is "greatly desired". And great desire is something you definitely feel when faced with a glass of this stuning wine. This is a rich and sturdy, but beautifully balanced expression that does not hold back in terms of intensity or opulence. Yet the wine never goes overboard. Giorgio Rivetti has produced fantastic results in the 2011 vintage.
Lush and powerful, sporting pure cherry and raspberry fruit, augmented by spice and tea notes. Blanced and long, this needs time to integrate more fully. The tea hint echoses on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,300 cases made, 150 cases imported.
This is a red with fascinating aromas of strawberry skin, dried flowers and truffles. Full body with silky tannins and wonderful balance and finesse. It caresses every inch of your palate. Try in 2017.
The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is born in a vineyard that sits at 330 meters above sea level. Giorgio tells me that the challenge here is crafting a wine with both elegance and power. Thanks to ideal growing conditions in 2010, he has succeeded at his task. Firm strucuture is supported by fleshy fruit tones and elegantly integrated spice. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. Giorgio Rivetti has unveiled a stuning line of new wines, and a few surprises as well, from his impecable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzane Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo will only be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of these special releases. Giorgio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shaped hill and is planted with 55- to 60-year- old Nebbiolo vines.
Medium red with a trace of amber at the edge. Sour cherry, minerals and an exotic whiff of peach on the reticent nose; smells denser and darker than the Starderi. Lush but closed in the mouth, with energetic minerality framing the dark berry flavors. The very long, lively finish coats the teeth with fine-grained tannins. Impressive. - Stephen Tanzer
La Spinetta’s 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is bursting with energy, even if it doesn’t quite have the sheer richness or pure depth of the very best vintages. Still, the Starderi is a hugely appealing wine that only needs time to shed some tannin. Raspberry jam, flowers, mint and cloves are followed by darker, more brooding aromas and flavors. As always, the Starderi is the richest and most imposing of the Spinetta Barbareschi. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. - Antonio Galloni
Fresh and aromatic, exhibiting floral, berry, eucalyptus and spice flavors before the tough tannins take over. Powerful and muscular, this closes down on the finish. The most backward of the three Barbaresco crus, and the one that offers the most potential. Best from 2016 through 2028.
Very fruity with hazelnuts on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long and intense finish. Chewy but polished. Better in 2015.
"The 2008 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is the biggest, most powerful and also most complete of the 2008 Barbarescos here, but it will require considerable patience. Huge, massive tannins provide the backdrop to a core of expressive dark fruit, flowers, mint and licorice. This is a virile Barbaresco with plenty of stuffing to age well, but it needs time for the tannins to soften. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026."
Bilberry, raspberry, floral and spice aromas and flavors grace this elegant, intense Barbaresco. Rich and fruity, with a spine of tannins underneath. Shows fine harmony and length. Best from 2014 through 2026. 1,250 cases made.
Good full red. Plum, menthol and minerals on the nose, complicated by marzipan and a medicinal quality. Fuller but less expressive than the Gallina, showing less fruit today. I don't find the same mid-palate energy as in the 2009 version but Rivetti says this wine is actually higher in acidity. And it has more stuffing to support its serious tannins than the Gallina. Very imploded today and in need of several years of cellaring.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi bursts from the glass with red berries, sweet spices, roses and mint, all of which come together on a powerful, richly structured frame that is the hallmark of Barbareschi from Neive. The Starderi is the most tannic of the estate’s 2007s but it is a wine with significant promise and a long road ahead of very fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. - Antonio Galloni
A big-boned Barbaresco, this is a bit gangly at first, settling into raspberry, cherry, floral and a hint of tar flavors. Muscular and tannic, contradicting the notion that Barbaresco is lighter than Barolo. Fine length and ripe tannins. Best from 2013 through 2026.
Loads of juicy fruit on the nose, with raspberries, spices, and hints of mulberries and plums. Full bodied and round, with soft tannins and a dried berry flavor. This is decadent and fascinating. Pull the cork in 2014. Find the wine
Good medium red. More carnal animal and truffle aromas complicated by dark spices; rather full-blown in the way of the 2006 Valeirano. The biggest of these 2007s but still quite young, even closed, today. Offers impressive depth and sweetness but I don't find as much perfume or apparent acidity as in the 2007 Valeirano. This wine has a serious tannic spine and will need time. - Stephen Tanzer
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi bursts from the glass with red berries, sweet spices, roses and mint, all of which come together on a powerful, richly structured frame that is the hallmark of Barbareschi from Neive. The Starderi is the most tannic of the estate’s 2007s but it is a wine with significant promise and a long road ahead of very fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. - Antonio Galloni
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
Good full medium red. Pure, vibrant nose features cherry and minerals. Silky on entry, then minerally and perfumed in the middle, with firm acids and serious ripe tannins giving it sound structural support. This really saturates the palate and teeth. Very suave and concentrated Barbaresco. - Stephen Tanzer
Wonderfully floral, with cream and berry aromas. Full-bodied, with round, chewy tannins and lots of fruit. Generous and rich for the vintage. Best after 2012.
The 2006 Barbaresco Starderi is easily the best of these three offerings, as the wine’s balance is exceptional. Aromatics, fruit and structure are all woven together in an impressive display of power and elegance. The fruit retains the house’s characteristic super-ripe style, but that element is more finely tuned here than in the estate’s other Barbarescos. Simply put, the 2006 is another terrific Starderi from proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and his team. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
(from Rivetti's oldest Barbaresco vines, at 50 to 55 years of age) Good medium-deep red. Reticent but pure aromas of red fruits, marzipan and menthol, plus a suggestion of grapefruit. Then large-scaled and sweeter than the nose would suggest, with a flavor of red fruit syrup lifted by a repeating suggestion of citrus peel and complemented by nicely integrated oak. Finishes very long and sweet, with broad, fine tannins and exceptional mouth coverage.
The 2005 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi offers up an attractive core of bright, candied red fruit, roses and spicies. Today it comes across as quite vibrant and fresh, suggesting a minimum of several years of cellaring are needed before the wine starts drinking at its finest. The tannins build on the long finish, but they are also beautifully balanced. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. Giorgio Rivetti has another set of very solid wines on his hands wth his 2005 Barbarescos. The wines have always shown terrific balance and are just a notch or two below his 2004s.
Plum and berry aromas, with honts of fresh herbs. Full, round and smooth, showing lots of berry, toasty oak and cappuccino with a long finish. Best after 2012. 1,200 cases made, 540 cases imported.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 2004 Barbaresco Starderi is a knock-out effort. A dark, brrooding wine it reveals an aary of dark cherries, spices, tar and smoke in a powerful, sinewy style. With each passing moment, it seemingly turns more and more classic in the glass, with only the super-ripe fruit serving as a reminder that this is a more contemporary wine. The balance and use of oak are both masterful. It is easly the finest wine Giorgio Rivetti has ever made, and is also the first wine in the estate's history that can truly challange for a spot in the top echelon of the zone. Anticipate maturity: 2009-2019. this is very strong set of releases from La Spinetta and propietor Giorgio Rivetti. The 2004 Barbarescos are easily the best of his career. The wines still see 100% new Frech oak, toast levels have been reduced and the Barbarescos now spend 12 months in oak rather than the 18 months they saw in previous vintages. Both changes have had a rmarkably positive effect in allowing more site-specific character and Nebbiolo fruit to come through. The 2003 Barolo Campe shows that Rivetti is making important strides with this wine as well. Only the 2005 Barberas are disappointing, but that is not entirely surprising given the uneven growing season. In the past La Spinetta was an estate that relied just as much on style a substance. The 2004 Barbarescos, and specially the Starderi, are the first wines that truly live up to the glamorous image that Giorgio Rivetti has masterfully succeeded in creating.
(from a vineyard in Neive) Deep red. Rather elegant nose offers strawberry, raspberry, tobacco, truffle, smoked meat and dried rose. Lush, full and rich but harmonious acidity and a minty nuance leaving the wine's thickness. There's a sweet strawberry flavor here but also serious structure and big tannins, giving a suggestion of youthful austerity. An impressive bomb of a Barbaresco: I'd drink the Gallina first and hold this for a five or six years.
Displays intense aromas of plum skin, orange peel and rosebud. Full-bodied with tannins and a long, caressing finish. Balanced, with a lovely texture. Best after 2010. 1,290 cases made, 900 cases imported.
As is general the case, I find the Starderi to be most convincing of the estate's Barbarescos and the 2003 is not exception. It is the ripest and sweetest of the wines, showing generous nuances of licorice, toasted oak, menthol and macerated cherries on a broad, full-bodied frame with terrific length as well as balance. Here the firm tannins are balanced by the wine's greater concentration. Anticipated maturity:2009-2018.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The masculine and brooding 2001 Barbaresco Starderi is unquestionably the most complex and complete of the La Spinetta Barbarescos. The wine is dark and deeply expresissive, with a the palate of dark roasted fruit, tar, spices, licorice and a lingering note of menthol. Despite its size and notable concentration the Standeri appears to be a bit more accesible than the Valeirano at hte moment. This is a modern-style Barbaresco at its best.
Extremely fresh on the nose, with fruit and raw meat character. Almost leafy underneath. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins, but they're round and caressing. This is a big red with a lot of heart. Best after 2007. 600 cases made, 450 cases imported.
The masculine and brooding 2001 Barbaresco Starderi is unquestionably the most complex and complete of the La Spinetta Barbarescos. The wine is dark and deeply expresissive, with a the palate of dark roasted fruit, tar, spices, licorice and a lingering note of menthol. Despite its size and notabe concentration the Starderi appears to be a bit more accessible than the Valeirano at the moment. This is modern style Barbaresco at its best. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2016.
The 2000 Barbaresco Starderi, as in the past, is a potent offering. The intense nose is traditional, with the expressive notes of tar, anisette, and kirsch, and the powerful tarry, mineral flavors are deep and delineated, with an important acceleration and expansion, a rise in the volume and richness form the mid-palate right through to be finish. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 1998 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi reveals tannin and structure, as well as a restrained, backward bouquet. Dark ruby-colored, round, and full-bodied, with notes of licorice, new oak, and black cherries, it requires 1-2 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following 10-12 years.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 1997 Barbaresco-La Spinetta Vigneto Starderi boasts a dark plum/purple color in addition to full body, great fruit, concentration, and power, but it is firm and closed compared to its siblings. Thre is plenty of potential, but this wine needs 4-5 years of cellaring. It should keep for two decades.
The 1996 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi's deep ruby color is followed by an explosive nose of sweet cherry liqueur, vanillin, and wood smoke. This full-bodied, highly-extracted, intense, sexy, moderately tannic wine is powerful yet well-balanced. Despite its ability to improve for 10-15 years, it is easy to drink at present.
Released 10 years after harvest, the Starderi Riserva magnum is once again the best expression of the Starderi vineyard, crafted from carefully tended 40-60-year-old vines. An intense, vibrant red color, beautiful aromas of dried fruit and flowers follow through to reveal dark fruits like blackberry and plum and sweet spices of cloves and vanilla. This is a powerful, rich wine with a full body and chewy tannins and a long, intense finish.
The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Starderi is fabulous. Naturally, the 2013 is a wine of its era, a time when the wines here were quite a bit darker, more extracted and oakier than they are today. Even so, 2013 has held up well. It's a dark, brooding Starderi that will delight La Spinetta fans.
The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Starderi (Magnum) is a big, big wine. Then again, that is Starderi. The overall impression here is that the oak tannins accentuate rather than soften the natural intensity of the fruit and site. Readers should expect a potent Barbaresco loaded with macerated red cherry fruit, rose petal, spice, licorice and French oak. I don't think 2010 will ever be truly harmonious, at the elite level, as is still a very good wine.
A beautiful expression of Barbaresco by La Spinetta released in magnum 10 years after the harvest. The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi Vürsù (Magnum) opens to a dark garnet color and a well-defined set of aromas. Boasting Nebbiolo purity, darkness and generosity, it reveals rich fruit, dried cherry, ferrous earth, licorice, tar and toasted aniseed. This expression from Starderi in Neive shows an austere and brooding personality with plenty of textural richness and depth. This magnum reveals a wine of careful balance, precision and power.
The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (magnum) is in a gorgeous spot where it is starting to show he signs of having entered and early plateau of maturity. Even so, it retains formidable tannic clout and tons of intensity. The 2009 appears to have enough fruit to develop well for another 7-10 years.
This carefully evolved Barbaresco shows a finer texture and fiber than you might have expected given its relatively robust construction. You get loads of cola and balsamic herb from the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (Magnum) and, of course, not as much primary fruit. This charner of a wine confidently exudes tertiary note of licorice, tar and smoky aromas with every pour. It's a mentholicious and balsamic Barbaresco that I wouldn't be afraid to serve now, at least not for a group of friends who absolutely deserve it. Only 600 magnums exist.
La Spinetta's 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Starderi (magnum) is more overtly unctuous and ripe than the Gallina tasted alongside it. Super-ripe dark cherry, mocha, vanilla sweet spice and licorice infuse the Starderi with tremendous textural richness and intensity. I find the exotic, jammy notes of the 2008 hard to get past, but this style will undoubtedly appeal to readers who enjoy more overtly flamboyant wines.
The 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (Magnum) immediately flaunts the density and important structure that is associated with this celebrated vineyard site. This is an overtly generous and bountiful expression of Nebbiolo that offers thick layers of aromatic intensity. The wine's best assets is the intact and vibrant quality of the primary fruit-so presented now, eleven years after the harvest. This is an expensive bottle for sure, but it does award a delicious and unforgettable experience.
The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Starderi Vürsù (only made in magnums) represents a step up in structure and opulence compared to the Barbaresco Riserva from the Gallina vineyard. The Starderi cru shows more power and muscle with evident brawn and a tight build. The wine never feels heavy and this is an important fact. In fact, the mouthfeel is lively and bright with fresh acidity and tart fruit flavors. This bottling is built to last.
Loads of leather, dried flower and ripe fruit on the nose. Full body, round tannins and a juicy finish. Lots of caramel, toffee and dark fruit. Only 500 magnums. Drink now.
Power and intensity reign in the 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (magnum). Dark red stone fruits, menthol, cloves, pomegranate and orange peel are all laced together in this decidedly dark, brooding, intense Barbaresco. Next to the Gallina, though, the Starderi is surprisingly a bit more forward, whereas in most vintages, the Gallina is the most precocious of La Spinetta's Barbarescos. -- Antonio Galloni
Received the rating of 3 glasses for extraordinary wines.
This wine was tasted in a magnum. The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Starderi is another stunning expression. This time the bouquet is flatter and broader, delivering round fruit, leather, tar and spice. It shows huge intensity and beauty. In fact, everything about this wine is super-sized: The structure, the plush density it shows in the mouth and the impressively long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2033.
Interestingly, the 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi, from magnum is a bit more forward than the Gallina, which I would not have expected based on how the wines showed when they were young. Sweet tobacco, white truffles and worn-in leather all waft from the glass. The Starderi has plenty of depth in its fruit and relatively soft tannins for such a big wine, but the aromatics are a bit more evolved, all of which suggests the wine is best enjoyed over the next handful of years. Hints of crushed flowers and rose petals linger on the close.
The softness and succulent character to this wine are impressive. Full-bodied, soft and caressing, it makes you want to drink it. Wonderful texture. Complex dried-strawberry and rose-petal character. Only in magnums. Drink now.
The 2003 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi is the fullest and richest of these Barbarescos. It is a super-lush, ripe wine loaede with dark raspberry, spices, flowers and sweet toasted oak. This perfumed, large-scaled Barbaresco offers notable concentration and depth, with outstanding overall balance. Available only in magnum.
Very perfumed with floral, berry and plum character and just a hit of roses. Full-bodied, with silky and refined tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very pretty. 1,200 magnums made. Best after 2007. 200 cases made.
The most potent and deeply-colored of the la Spinetta wines, the 2001 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi is another excelletn effort from this estate. Packed with layers of vibrant super-ripe fruit that coat the palate with notable persistence and depth, as well as expressive aromatics and bold tannins, it is massively endowed Barbaresco that should drink well to age 20.
This is a precise and finely cut Barbaresco, exhibiting the most austere personality of the three La Spinetta Barbaresco wines, typical of this cru in Treiso. The vineyard is quite high for Barbaresco at 450 meters (1,476 feet) above sea level and faces entirely south. The Valeirano is a wine of tremendous energy and intensity with shades of dark cherry, sweet spice, crushed flowers, leather, mint, truffle and tobacco (perfumes reminiscent of Barolo), adding dimension to this already potent wine. Substantial tannins are softened by a touch of sophistication, a wine to watch in the future.
Coming from Treiso (the rest come from Nieve), the 2022 Barbaresco Valeirano Versu is a medium red/orange color and is sweetly perfumed on opening with aromas of rose petal, wild strawberries, hints of blue flowers, and wet stones. The palate is where the structure gradually comes through, with ripe and youthful tannins, even acidity, and good length. It’s deceptive on the nose with its incredibly pretty perfume, but it will be worth waiting for. Drink 2027-2040.
Lots of rose petals and botanicals on the nose with cherries and dried peaches. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are juicy and plush. Flavorful and very long. Lots going on here. Very solid and crisp. Drink in four or five years. Best after 2027.
Lots of rose petals and botanicals on the nose with cherries and dried peaches. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are juicy and plush. Flavorful and very long. Lots going on here. Very solid and crisp. Drink in four or five years.
The 2021 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is a complex, dynamic wine that captures all the presence of Treiso. This fruit is picked a bit riper, needed to soften the tannins, so the flavor profile is a bit racier. Even so, I am drawn to the wine's complexity, nuance and detail. It’s a gorgeous wine.
In the bottle with the rhinoceros and the blue label, the organic La Spinetta 2021 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù is a full-bodied expression of Nebbiolo with good definition and a medium-rich texture. You get dark fruit, spice, fragrant tea leaf and hints of cured meat. It ages in barrique for 20 to 22 months, depending on the vintage. Altogether, I'd say the oak is nicely integrated in this wine, although its imprint does remain evident.
This red reveals tension between its savory elements of eucalyptus, juniper and balsam and its raspberry and boysenberry fruit. There's also a tight-grained feel, compounded by a touch of new oak and accompanying spices. Shows fine balance and length. Best from 2027 through 2042. 550 cases made, 183 cases imported.
Black cherries, fresh flowers, rose stems and lavender aromas follow through to full-bodied palate with chewy tannis that are long and intense. Powerful and structured. Give it four or five years to soften.
The 2020 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, graphite, sage, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and incense infuse the 2020 with tremendous complexity. Powerful but not overdone, the 2020 should evolve well for many years to come.
Showing the estate's rhinoceros design with a blue label, the La Spinetta 2020 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù (in a heavy glass bottle) reveals robust aromas of dark fruit, cassis, spice, crushed rose and a heavier fruit note of kirsch or crème de cassis. This is a full-bodied Barbaresco from a hot vintage. It shows rich fruit weight, dusty tannins and good power.
The 2019 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano continues its progression as the most improved of the Spinetta Barbarescos. Dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol, dried herbs, leather, sage and incense fill out the layers effortlessly. The tannins, often quite potent here, are present, they are nicely integrated in the wine's fabric. The Valeirano is the most savory and mineral (and least fruity) of the Spinetta Barbarescos.
Packaged with the distinctive rhinoceros label (in blue), the La Spinetta 2019 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù has some ripeness and softness that is expressed with blackberry, plum and sweet spice. The wine is structured and full-bodied, but it also shows integrated tannins that support the wine in a firm but effortless manner.
Lots of roses to the red fruits and dry earth aromas. Some lemon bush. It's medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a leaner and fresh finish. Drinkable, but better in a couple of years.
Valeirano is located within Treiso, where a similar soil content to that of Serralunga d’Alba lends more structure and depth to the wines. The 2018 Barbaresco Valeirano Versu is expressive with tar, black cherry, and licorice. It has a more powerful structure on the palate that remains finessed and compact. Allow for 3-5 years in cellar and drink 2024-2045.
From a plot of 55-year-old vines in Neive, this wine exhibits ripe black-cherry flavors tinged with earthy tones and framed by firm, mineral tannins. Notes of dusky spice emerge with air, balanced by hints of tobacco leaf.
So perfumed and floral with bright black cherries and citrus, following through to a full-bodied yet very tight and intense palate. Compact and beautiful. Slightly austere at the end. This needs time to open and soften. Try after 2023.
These 2018 Barbarescos from La Spinetta are just terrific. The 2018 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù completes this line with its fruit from the village of Treiso. This wine is less etched and sharp than the others, and it exhibits a rich and more fleshed-out approach with greater volume. There is plenty of dark fruit and shades of cherry, but a lasting impression is made by spice, licorice and balsam herb.
La Spinetta’s 2017 Barbaresco Valeirano is classy, elegant and polished from start to finish. Freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet red berry fruit and blood orange are some of the many notes that grace this super-expressive, inviting Barbaresco from La Spinetta. In 2017, the Valeirano is more delicate and less hefty than it can be – which is not a bad thing – although there is plenty of its characteristic tannin to carry the wine and give it energy.
The 2017 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù shows increased focused and brighter high notes compared to the other new releases from La Spinetta. The Valeirano cru is located in Treiso and sees 50- to 60-year-old vines planted at 380 meters above sea level, where they benefit from cool nighttime temperatures in the crucial weeks leading up to harvest. The wine is packed tight with black cherry and blackberry with light shadings of cedar, licorice and spice at the back. These wines from 2017 all tend to show extra tannic intensity, although this expression appears the silkiest of them all.
There’s real purity of fruit and beauty in this young Barbaresco with strawberry, cherry and light chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy and firm tannins and a pretty finish. Give it two or three years to come together. Try in 2023.
Another wine of importance from La Spinetta, this is a well-structured and compact expression with lots of dark fruit and ripe berries buried within. The 2016 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù, sporting a fittingly hefty rhinoceros depicted on the front of the bottle, is heavier and denser than the others from this line. There are dry and astringent tannins, and like the pachyderm on the label, this wine will live to a ripe old age—if it isn't poached from the cellar beforehand. Some 7,000 bottles were made.
The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is the most refined wine I have tasted form this side in Treiso. The tannins, always forbidding in Valeirano, are wonderfully polished, and yet convey the essential feeling of structure that is such a central part of what makes Barbaresco so compelling as a wine. Dark wild cherry, incense, graphite, spice and dried flowers add shades of dimension to this virile, potent Barbaresco that captures the essence of this site, but with an added touch of sophistication that is quite welcome. I can't wait to see how the 2016 ages. In a word: Superb!
Distinctive aromas of rose, black currant and raspberry mark this taut, intense red, which is sleek and firmly structured, with lively acidity and dusty tannins mingling with fruit, savory and mineral elements on the long aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2038. 583 cases made, 200 cases imported.
Dark peaches, glazed cherries, Christmas cake, orange peel and wet earth. Full-bodied and very structured on the palate, where chewy tannins carry dried red berries long and spicy. Drink in 2023.
Here is another knock-out Barbaresco from the talented team at La Spinetta. The 2015 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù grows quickly in power and volume as it sits in the glass. That fluid evolution adds to the expansive and generous nature of the bouquet. The wine passes through various phases of fruit, spice and delicate herbal intensity. In the mouth, it remains silky and long in resolve and endurance. Despite the heat of the vintage, this edition boasts beautiful softness and ripeness that is never too heavy.
The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is another striking wine from La Spinetta. Precise and finely cut, the 2015 shows the slightly austere personality that is typical of this cru. Even so, the 2015 possesses tremendous energy and intensity. Sweet spice, crushed flowers, crushed rocks, leather, spice, mint and sweet tobacco grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Barbaresco. The 2015 finishes with real substance and gravitas, both of which bode well for its future in bottle. This may be the most finessed edition of Valeirano ever here.
The roses and sandalwood character to these wines are impressive. Lots of ripe fruit too. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. This needs two or three years to soften. Better in 2021.
Juniper, cherry, tar and eucalyptus flavors mark this supple, high-strung red. Rich, yet balanced by vibrant acidity and resonant tannins. Fine length. Best from 2022 through 2037. 39 cases imported.
La Spinetta's 2014 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is a dark, brooding wine. Because of its depth and overall structure, the oak element is less evident here than it is in some of the other wines. Smoke, licorice, tar, spice, black cherry and rose petal gradually emerge from a wall of firm, imposing tannins. Readers will have to be patient with the 2014, but it is a striking wine in the making. As is often the case, the Valeirano has a distinctive element of austerity and nerve.
From the Treiso township, the 2014 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù represents a stylistic marriage of the elegant Gallina and the more powerful Starderi crus (both in the Neive township). This is a compact and fine Nebbiolo with a mid-weight style and slightly sweet tannins. In terms of its flavor profile, the wine shows savory spice and barbecue smoke followed by blackberry and dried cherry. In a sense, this wine borrows the best attributes of the other two Barbaresco expressions also reviewed in this report.
Intense aromas of tar and dried strawberry with some walnut shell. Full body, chewy and powerful. Needs some years to soften. Shows excellent quality for this difficult vintage. Drink in 2019.
An elegant style, this delivers cherry, strawberry, tar and underbrush flavors. Firm and compact on the taut, fresh finish. Best from 2020 through 2030
This is really exotic with dried rose petal, berry and walnut character. Medium to full body, velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Needs time to develop but already fascinating. Drink or hold.
The 2013 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is a powerhouse. Tannic, rough around the edges and virile in its expression, the 2013 is going to need at least few years in bottle to shed some of its tannin. The flavors are deep and boldly sketched, with the acidity of the vintage and the incisive Treiso tannins adding brightness throughout. Sweet dark cherries, cinnamon, new leather and menthol meld into the powerful, tannic finish.
This red combines cherry and berry flavors with savory eucalyptus, juniper and tobacco notes. Firmly structured, with assertive yet balanced tannins and a lingering finish. Best from 2018 through 2028.
Dark red cherries, spices, menthol, anise and mint are some of the signatures in La Spinetta 2012 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano. The aromatics are piercing, while the typically vibrant Valeirano tannins give the wine its sense of energy and proportion. Sinewy and persistent, with lovely freshness for the year, the Valeirano is another strong wine from La Spinetta. As always, the Valeirano is the most austere of the Spinetta Barbarescos. In 2012, that actually helps give the wine an extra kick of freshness.
The spectator 2012 Barbaresco Valeirano Vursu is bursting with vibrant fruit and a lingering sense of elegance. The ine opens to a medium garnet color and focused precision. The aromas are not as intense as in other vintages, but this Barbaresco certainly leaves its aromatic mark nonetheless. La Spinetta's wines are never muted or subtle. They always seem to travel in fifth gear and that's what makes them so irresistible.
A distinctive mix of eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, wild cherry, floral, tar and underbrush aromas and flavors mark this complex, silky Barbaresco. The nervy tannins offer a sinewy edge. Needs air to reveal all of its charms, so decant now or cellar. Best from 2018 through 2027.
This is so complex, with decadent leather, atr and sliced-plum aromas. Porcini mushrooms. Full body. Firm and structured with fabolous fruit but subtle and racy. Better in 20017.
The 2011 barbaresco Valeirano Vursu is a stunning wine that shows the best side of this warm vintage. The wine maintains its elegance and its grace, but it also shows a riper side with blackberry, dried cherry, resin, licorice and atr. The ensemble is compelling and very attractive. The wine tastes very young at this stage, but it already exhibits the potential for an interesting evolution ahead. Dig deep and distinct aromas of tobacco, tar and balsam herb begin to appear. La Spinetta is a meticulous and detail-minded estate. That care is most certainly on display here. I had the opportunity to send some time with Giorgio Rivetti this year at the Campe winery just outside the Ginzane Cavour castle. This gave me the opportunity to taste his fabulous 2005 Riservas from magnum (that will be released later this year in September) and a chance to catch up on some back vintages. La Spinetta is synonymous with one of the most distinctive winemaking styles in the Langhe. The wines are easily identifiable in a blind tastnig because, across the board, they offer a uniquely intense aromatic delivery. The bouquetes on the 2013 wines are deeply fragant and fruity; the 2012 vintage is more integrated with spice and tobacco. The 2011 vintage is marked with profound balsam notes of cola, mint and medicinal herbs. These are extremely personalized wines.
La Spinetta's Barbaresco Valierano has come together beautifully over the last year. Deeply spiced and aromatic, the 2011 has begun to flesh out as the tannins have softened. Still, it is to soon for the Valeirano to deliver all it has. Today, the French oak remains dominant, which makes me think the wine may not have enough stuffing to balance things out. Time will tell.
Fruit for the 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is harvested at 45o meters above sea level in the Neive township. These conditions shape a radically different character. This wine is precise and sharp with finely etched tones of spice, dark berry and wet earth. The overall structure and power of the wine is super elegant and immediate. You can safely put this bottle away for years. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. Giorgio Rivetti has unveiled a stunning line of the new wines, and a few surprises as well, from his impeccable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzane Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo will only be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of these special releases. Giorgio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shape hill and is planted with 55- to 60-year old Nebbiolo vines.
Aromas of dried flowers, plums, truffles and dried spices. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a rose petals, dried strawberry and plum aftertaste. This is structured and rich. Better after 2015.
This is intense and wonderful with polished tannins and fabulous dark berry and licorice aromas. Flowers too. Full and super velvety with finesse and beauty but power too. Better in 2015.
Mint, rose petals, sweet red berries and cinnamon are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano. Unlike the Gallina, there isn’t a whole lot of early appeal here, rather the Valeirano is a wine built on a serious core of strucuture and linearity. With time in the glass, the wine's exotic inner sweetness emerges somewhat, but the tannins are always present. Readers should give the 2009 at least another few years in the bottle.
Mint, rose petals, sweet red berries and cinnamon are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2009 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano. Unlike the Gallina, there isn’t a whole lot of early appeal here, rather the Valeirano is a wine built on a serious core of structure and linearity. With time in the glass, the wine’s exotic inner sweetness emerges somewhat, but the tannins are always present. Readers should give the 2009 at least another few years in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
Intense aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry jam, sandalwood and white pepper are matched to a rich texture. Elegant, with fine-grained tannins and a firm grip on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2024.
Good full red. Ripe strawberry and rose petal on the perfumed, slightly liqueur-like nose, with a peachy nuance emerging with aeration. Plush, sweet and vibrant, with terrific sappy energy to the flavors of red fruits and spices. Finishes perfumed and very long, with the sweetest tannins of this set of 2008 Barbarescos. This is at another level of quality.
Beautiful cherry, raspberry and floral aromas and flavors are allied to a silky texture in this aromatic red. Possesses a solid tannic structure for support, with spice accents picking up on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. 575 cases made.
The 2008 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano comes across as quite clenched and austere, which it always is, to some degree. It possesses plenty of energy and power, just not enough depth to balance its French oak. The finish is big, massive and tannic. If this fills out, it will merit a higher score down the road. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
There is some serious richness and intensity here, with plums, fresh flowers, and sweet tobacco on the nose and palate. Full bodied, with round and soft tannins and a long finish. A fascinating wine. Pull the cork after 2015.
Suave and silky, this red boasts wild aromas and flavors of menthol and forest underbrush to complement its sweet cherry and berry notes. Opulent and dense, with complexity and a lingering aftertaste of fruit, woodsy spices and mineral. Best from 2014 through 2030
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano, on the other hand, is the most clenched and unexpressive of these 2007 Barbareschi. The Valeirano emerges from the glass with red berries, minerals, French oak and menthol. It is a surprisingly austere wine for 2007 and I am not sure it has the sheer density in its fruit to stand up to the French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.
The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano, on the other hand, is the most clenched and unexpressive of these 2007 Barbareschi. The Valeirano emerges from the glass with red berries, minerals, French oak and menthol. It is a surprisingly austere wine for 2007 and I am not sure it has the sheer density in its fruit to stand up to the French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.
The 2006 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is another exuberant wine. Here, too, the aromatics literally jump out of the glass, as layers of perfumed super-ripe fruit are intermingled with a persistent vein of minerality. The powerful, focused Valeirano offers outstanding balance, but needs a few years in bottle for the tannins to melt away. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. - Antonio Galloni
Good medium red. Wild aromas of truffle, smoke, underbrush, spices and cigar box. Then fat and lush in the mouth, showing the exotic side of the vintage. This silky Barbaresco has the sex appeal to be enjoyed early. Finishes with ripe, building tannins. Conveys a rather high-pH feel, and indeed Rivetti notes that pHs are generally higher in his 2006 Barbarescos than in the 2007s. - Stephen Tanzer
The 2005 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano opens with a huge, brooding nose of smoke, tar, and scorched earth. This massive, building wine changes constantly in the glass, as black cherries, wild herbs, menthol and licorice gradually take center stage. Despite its large-scaled personality, the wine possesses tons of harmony. Sweet notes of menthol and tar linger on the long finish. This explosive Barbaresco is impressive for the way it marries power to elegance in 2005. - Antonio Galloni
The 2005 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano opens with a huge, brooding nose of smoke, tar, and scorched earth. This massive, building wine changes constantly in the glass, as black cherries, wild herbs, menthol and licorice gradually take center stage. Despite its large-scaled personality, the wine possesses tons of harmony. Sweet notes of menthol and tar linger on the long finish. This explosive Barbaresco is impressive for the way it marries power to elegance in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
Has lots of blackberry and citrus fruit aromas. Full-bodied, with round, soft tannins and a medium finish. Fresh and juicy. Needs bottle age. Not giving much at the moment. Best after 2012.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 2004 Barbaresco Valeirano is even better than the Gallina. Made in a fresher, more structured style than the Gallina. It is a gorgeous, poised wine with ripe fruit, menthol, spices, truffles and a sweet toasted oak notes. Still backward, it is the most structured of these 2004 Barbarescos, and will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018. This is a veru strong set of releases from La Spinetta and propietor Giorgio Rivetti. The 2044 Barbarescos are easily the best of his career. The wines still see 100% new French oak, but toasts levels have been reduced and the Barbarescos now spend 12 months in the oak rather than the 18 months they saw in prevous vintages. Both changes have had a remarkable positive effect in the allowing more site-specific character and Nebbiolo fruit to come through. The 2003 Barolo Campe shows that Rivetti is making important strides with this wine as well. Only the 2005 Barberas are disappointing but that is not entirely surprising given the uneven growing season. In the past La Spinetta was an estate that relied just as much on style as substance. The 2004 Barbarescos, and specially the Starderi, are the first wines that truly live up to the glamorous image that Giorgio Rivetti has materfully succeeded in creating.
Good full red, a bit less fresh than the Starderi. Slightly roasted aromas of wild strawberry, game, truffle and brown spices. Fat, round and sweet, with distinctly carnal truffle and game characther. Not quite as delineated as the Gallina but there's still very good life to the plump flavors. Finishes with big, ripe tannins and some apparent oak.
Has intense aromas of ripe strawberry and fresh mushroom, with vanilla and sandalwood. Full-bodied, thick and concentrated, with ultrasoft tannins and a long aftertaste of coffee, plum and berry. Best after 2011. 580 cases made, 400 cases imported.
Medium red. Aromatic nose combines exotic fruits an spicy oak. Dense, thick and deep; chewy and structured. Boasts powerful, youthful fruit and a very long, solidly tannic finish. Classic young Barbaresco in the making.
Lovely berry, spice and aged cedar on the nose. Full-bodied, with deep fruit on the palate that needs to be drawn out. Tannic and structured. This needs bottle age. Best after 2008. 250 cases made, 220 cases imported.
The 2001 Barbaresco Valeirano is convincing in its overall balance. Massively rich, offers penetrating aroma of truffles, minerals, vanilla, tar and mint. On the palate it is dense and chewy with generous amounts of dark, backward fruit and a long, fresh finish puntuated by the exuberant, youthful tannins. It is the most austere of the three La Spinetta Barbarescos . Anticipated maturity: 2007-2013.
Shows the essence of Nebbiolo fruit, with freshly cut plum, flowers and a hint of orange peel. Full-bodied, with lovely, silky tannins and a soft, superrich finish. Luscious and ripe. Best after 2008. 830 cases made.
The 2000 Barbaresco Valeirano, from a vineyard in Treiso, is normally muscular, and this is the case in 2001 as well. The color is deep, the nose has absorbed its oak completely, and the heft and concentration are at a high level. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2017.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The ravishingly complex 1998 Barbaresco Valeirano possesses a distintive bouquet of licorice, root beer, earth, cherry liquor, rose petals, and truffles. Drink this complex, dense, opulent-textured hdenistic offering over the next decade.
Sensational, but structured is the 1997 Barbaresco- La Spinetta Valeirano. This wine exhibits licorice, glycerin and berry fruit along with exotic spices, leather, smoke, and herbs. Spicy and full-bodied, with obvious tannin, structure, and muscle, it requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and shuold keep for 15-20.
The Riserva Valeriano magnum is a result of the utmost attention to the best grapes in the Valeriano vineyard, released after 10 years in the La Spinetta cellar. Though often considered the more austere of the Barbaresco vineyards, this wine displays a beautiful purity of fruit with ripe strawberries, citrus, and flowers, laced with aromas of herbs and spice. Full-bodied with a striking tannic backbone and beautiful concentration that lasts for minutes. The wine’s gorgeous freshness and vibrancy is maintained thanks to the time spent in magnum.
The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Valeirano has also held up well. As is often the case, the Valeirano delivers a decidedly linear expression of Nebbiolo and Barbaresco. Dark fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice are all nicely delineated.
The 2012 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Valeirano (Magnum) is another wine that has aged well. Dark fruit, leather, menthol, mocha, licorice, tobacco and smoke convey plenty of intensity. All things considered, the 2012 is terrific. It's also a fine example of this sector in Treiso, a place where the wines are often bruisers.
The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Valeirano (Magnum) is a wild, exotic wine. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, licorice, espresso and incense race across the palate. Still very deep and quite intense, the Riserva will drink well for another decade. It is the most overtly flamboyant of these wines.
The 2010 Riserva Vigneto Valeirano (Magnum) is anothe rich, heady wine in this collection of 2010 Riserva releases from La Spinetta. Everything is dialed up in the Valeirano, a wine that offers tons of dense, dark fruit and plenty of power too. Tannins are imposing, but there is good depth to the fruit as well. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, leather, cloves and new French oak build into the strapping finish.
Made only in magnum and released 10 years after the harvest, La Spinetta's 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano Vürsù (Magnum) ushers forth an amazing experience based on dark fruit, spice, smoke, balsam herb and grilled rosemary. The wine has moved forward along its aging trajectory but slowly and surely, revealing carefully measured evolution on the one hand and primary intensity on the other. You feel those 10 years of Nebbiolo-aging in the mouth, where silky tannins meet a mid-weight feel with good richness and concentration.
The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano (magnum) is a powerful, tannic wine. White truffle, spice, leather, cedar, and sweet pipe tobacco lend striking aromatic nuance. The 2009 has aged very nicely. My only concern for the future is that it remains rather taut and that the fruit will at some point start to dry out.
Tasted from the magnum, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano (Magnum) offers a lot of depth and penetration, with profound aromas of black fruit, cherry, dried herb and so much more. This is a dark and concentrated Barbaresco with background notes of barbecue spice, leather, tar, tobacco and ripe dark fruit. You'll get plenty of cola and balsam herb on the close. This result is no surprise. It is another beauty of a Riserva Valeirano and another soul-penetrating expresion not to be missed. Only 600 magnums were made.
This wine represents a crowning achievement among an elite group of magnum-only delayed releases. The 2007 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano (Magnum) is nothing short of magnificent. It is intense and articulate in ways you don't expect. Specifically, I am referring to the vibrant and dazzling quality of fruit that is traveling full speed ahead. Nothing about this wine has slowed down. In fact, I would epect this beautiful interpretation to pick up further speed and complexity as it continues its evolution. This wine is old but also new, sweet but also savory and powerful but also elegant. It is a wine of profound contrast that find impeccable unity despite those inherent contradictions. Congratulatiosn to La Spinetta.
At 400 meters above sea level, the Valeirano vineyard is La Spinetta's highest in elevation. The site is characterized by sandy soils with many stones mixed within. The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Valeirano Vürsù almost feels like a Barolo from the Serralunga d'Alba township thanks to the enormous power, determination and richness it so lavishly displays. The bouquet opens to deep, dark fruit aroma of plum, blackberry and black currant. Those aromas are followed by molasses, barbecue spice, tar and balsam herb. Up until the 2004 vintage, they have started aging a portion of the wine in neutral oak to bring out the elegance of the grape. This series of Riserva in magnum was only skipped once in the difficult 2002 vintage.
Lots of olive oil, eucalyptus and dried dark fruits. Full body, very fine tannins and a pretty finish. Refined and caressing. Drink now.
The 2005 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano (magnum) is the most evolved of the three Barbarescos. Worn-in leather, smoke, incense, dried fruit and herbs are all laced together in the glass. The 2005 has plenty of palate intensity, but the aromatics are evolving at a faster pace than the tannins are softening. Ideally the 2005 Riserva is enjoyed sooner rather than later.
The wine was tasted in a magnum. The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Vigneto Valeirano is my favorite wine of the bunch. Those delicate tones of dried ginger, white truffle, pressed flower and rose petal are gorgeous on every concentrate level. The wine is dark, ethereal and brooding. Never still, it displays a quick succession of evolutionary phases even after a few minutes in the glass. I wouldn't even think of touching this bottle for another ten years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035.
This is extremely decadent, with plums, meat, foie gras and rose bush aromas and flavours. Full body with soft, velvety tannins and a long, intense finish. So much flavour. Wonderful wine for drink now. A special release in magnum.
The 2004 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano, from magnum, smells like walking into a room full of white truffles. Not bad. Like the Starderi, the Valeirano has maintained gorgeous freshness in the big bottle, with plenty of vibrancy, especially on the palate. The aromatics are a bit moe forward than the expression of fruit, so I would prefer to drink the 2004 sooner rather than later, before that gap becomes more apparent. Worn-in leather, tobacco, smoke and licorice all flesh out on the pliant, expressive finish.
The 2003 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano offers better balance than the Gallina in its dark ripe fruit, spices, new leather and minerals. It has plenty of stuffing to match its structural components. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.
The 2003 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano offers better balance than the Gallina in its dark ripe fruit, spices, new leather and minerals. It has plenty of stuffing to match its structural components. Available only in magnum.
Very ripe aromas of plum, bordering on prune, with loads of crushed flowers and light toasted oak. Full-bodied, with layers of ripe tannins and plenty of ripe fruit. Long and caressing. Juicy wine. 1,000 magnums made. Best after 2007. 165 cases made.
The estate's 2001 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano is a fully-structured wine, with plenty of stuffing to fill its ample frame. Displaying superior concentration, depth and length in its super-ripe fruit, tar, licorice, truffle and mineral nuance, it is an engaging Barbaresco that marries modern flavors with a somewhat austere, classic personality. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017.
The estate's 2001 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano is a more fully-structured wine, with plenty of stuffing to fill its ampler frame. Displaying superior concentration, depth and lengh in its super-ripe fruit, tar, licorice, truffle and mineral nuances, it is an engaging Barbaresco that marries modern flavors with a somewhat austere, classic personality.
The Barbazzale Etna Rosso is based predominantly on the indigenous Sicilian grape Nerello Mascalese, a dark-skinned variety that grows most commonly on the volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna. This highly regarded variety tends to produce wines that reflect their surroundings, resulting in firm, fresh reds with fruity, herbaceous flavors, excellent minerality and an earthy nuance and an elegance and finesse often compared to that of Pinot Noir. Nerello Cappuccio completes the Etna Rosso blend (as is typical of Etna Rosso DOC wines) lending color and perfume, as well as softening out some of Nerello Mascalese's harder edges. On the nose, the wine entices with aromas of raspberries, blackberries and wildflowers entwined with a touch of minerality. The palate is fresh and aromatic, balanced by good tannins.
Juicy mulberry, blackberry, raspberry, orange and herb notes here, with a medium body and powdery tannins. Fruity and bright. Drink now.
Some nice red-fruit character, but there's a rather simple feel to this. Medium body, lightly firm tannins and a clean finish. Drink now.
Vanilla-cherry cola and wild herbs float above meaty, leathery undertones on the nose of this wine. The palate is warmed by ripe cherries and berries as well as pepper, spices and a last flash of heat on the back.
The 2019 Etna Rosso Barbazzale keeps you coming back to the glass with a woodland-inspired display of wild berries, lavender, wet stone and undergrowth. It’s soft-textured and fleshy in feel, maintaining balance through a pure display of fresh strawberries laced with sweet spice and florals. Round tannins frame the expression nicely as the Barbazzale tapers off to a dusting of violet candies. This blend of 90% Nerello Mascalese and 10% Nerello Cappuccio is easy to like, showing quite well today, and it is a fantastic bargain.
An Etna red that's rich in primary fruit, this shows brambleberry pie, violet reduction and plum paste. Round and fruity on the medium-bodied palate with silky tannins. Drink now.
Aromas of dried berries, walnuts, dried herbs and spices. Full-bodied, integrated and very fine with ultra-fine tannins. Rich, tight and balanced. A blend of nerello mascalese and nerello cappuccio.
Rich, dense and layered with dark berries, bark and hints of black tea. Full-bodied, round and velvety. Lively acid backbone. All here. Drink now.
Healthy ruby-red. Red plum, licorice and an herbal nuance on the nose. Bright and crisp in the mouth, showing sneaky intensity to the red berry and mineral flavors. Harmonious acidity extends the flavors at the back. Made in the usually bright style of Barbazzale Rosso, this wine finishes with fine-grained tannins and subtle persistence if not mind-boggling complexity. An easygoing everyday table wine with considerable early appeal.
The 2007 Etna Rosso is a gorgeous wine that captures the magic of the Etna. Layers of sweet dark cherries, licorice, menthol and leather flow gracefully from this elegant, beautifully delineated red. There is a clarity and purity to the fruit that is quite striking. Hints of tar and smoke add the final layers of complexity on the finish.
This gorgeous Barbera comes from the small (10 acres) south-facing Gallina vineyard in Neive. This is a supple, dense and racy wine, with no hard edges and tons of concentration. Generous aromas of dark raspberry jam, blueberry, mocha, shaved dark chocolate, spice and new leather fill out nicely in a creamy, generous Barbera that expresses the natural, almost feminine, silkiness and character that make this wine so unique.
The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is pretty impressive in this vintage. Dark and potent, with terrific persistence, the Gallina has plenty of texture that has always been a signature but without the heaviness and strong oak imprint that was at times penalizing. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, mocha and rose petals scream out of the glass. Pretty floral top notes brighten the finish.
The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is packed with black cherry, plum, espresso, mocha and licorice. Plush and generous, the 2020 is a classic Barbera from Alba with forward fruit and soft contours to wrap it all together.
Aromas of crushed berry and raspberry with some flint and slate undertones. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and slightly chewy tannins. Shows tension and focus. Drink now.
The La Spinetta 2018 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is balanced and bright with dark fruit, pressed blackberry, plum and sweet potting soil. The wine is soft and richly textured, making it perfect to pair across from a classic roast pork dinner.
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is sleek, elegant and delicious. Black cherry, plum, licorice, spice and blackberry jam fill out the layers nicely. The 2017 is dark and voluptuous, but also shows a bit less heft than some recent years, a development that is quite positive, in my view, that will be more evident in more favorable vintages. Pretty floral accents round out the finish.
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is darkly saturated and rich with an abundant display of black cherry, plum and blackberry. The wine shows broad shoulders but carries its fruit weight with considerable balance and poise. You could pair this wine with barbecued red meat or pulled pork.
The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is a very beautiful wine. In 2016, the Gallina has all the fruit richness and intensity it always has, with an extra kick of richness that brings an extra dimention of verticality and energy. Raspberry jam, spice., menthol and licorice all develop in the glass in this impeccably rendered, totally alluring Barbera from one of the top sites in Barbaresco.
From a two-hectare plot in the Gallina cru in Neive with south-facing exposures. The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Gallina (with 7,000 bottles produced) shows great focus and sharpness with bright cherry and blackberry fruit followed by spice, tilled earth and sweet barbecue smoke. This Barbera from Alba offers more linearity and directness compared to the other two expressions of the grape from the Asti area, where you feel the acidic crispness of the grape.
Another gorgeous wine, the 2015 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is supple, dense and racy, with no hard edges and tons of concentration. Dark raspberry jam, mocha, spice and new leather fill out nicely in a creamy, supple Barbera that expresses all of the natural silkiness and resonance that make this wine so unique.
Barbera is planted in the middle section of the celebrated Gallina cru in Neive. The rest of this vineyard is planted to Nebbiolo to make Barbaresco Gallina. Counterintuitively, La Spinetta left that strip of Barbera grapes intact because they wanted to preserve tradition. Others would have probably replaced it with the more lucrative Nebbiolo variety. The 2014 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is made from old vines evidently happy to stay exactly where they are at the moment. Despite the difficulties of the vintage, this wine oozes forth with dark intensity, a velvety structure and exuberant fruit aromas. Smokey mineral dustings also appear.
A fresh and clean Barbera with dried berry and lemon rind character. Medium body, fresh finish. Attractive for a 2014. Drink now.
Just bottled, the 2013 Barbera d'Alba Gallina exudes richness and intensity. Blueberry jam, mocha, crème de cassis and bittersweet chocolate wrap around the palate. Unctuous, super-ripe and concentrated, the 2013 is decidedly flamboyant, with the suave tannins and supleness that are such a signature of this wine. At times, the Gallina is a bit heavy, but it is otherwise tasty.
A bright, delicious barbera with lots of blueberry, shaved -dark-chocolate and spice aromas and flavors. Full body, firm tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Drink now.
Wonderful aromas of dark fruits, truffles and flowers. Full and smoky earth and dark fruit. Velvety texture. Long finish.
A gorgeous red with blackberries and fresh herbs and hints of spices. Full body, round tannins and a fresh, clean finish. La Spinetta is a master of Barbera among other reds. Drink now.
A tense, tightly coiled wine, the 2010 Barbera d'Alba Gallina impresses for its energy, drive and class. Graphite, tar, smoke and licorice flow through to the powerful, vibrant finish. The Gallina is usually pretty soften and round, but not in 2010. A blast of tar, smoke and incense hits the palate on the finish.
A generous and rich Barbera with loads of character, like a Sachertorte chocolate cake. Full and very fresh, with a juicy, fruity finish.
The 2009 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is rich, powerful and direct. I am surprised by the wine's huge structure, as I expected a softer Barbera given the vintage and site. Plums, mocha, licorice and grilled herbs all flesh out in the powerful, incisive Barbera. With time in the glass, the wine turns increasingly floral and delicate, yet never loses its essential depth. Readers will need to be patient, but there is no denying the 2009 is shaping up to be a wonderful bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
The 2008 Barbera d'Alba Gallina shows the suppleness and richness of this great vineyard in Neive. Here the fruit is warm, open and expressive, quite a contrast to its sibling, the Barbera Bionzo, which is made forma site in Asti. The Gallina flows effortlessly with sweet ripe blackberries, flowers, spices, herbs, licorice and leather, but it is the wine's textural elegance and silkness I admire most. This is a beautiful, understated Barbera from La Spinetta. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018. This is a superb set of wines form Giorgio Rivetti. The 2008 Barbareschi are among the strongest wines of the year, while the 2007 Barolo Campe is the best wine to emerge from Rivetti's vineyard in Grinzane Cavour. The La Spinetta style focusing on wines of great textural richness remains intact, but is dialed in to a greater degree with each passing vintage.
The 2007 Barbera d'Alba Gallina emerges from the glass with a gorgeous array of violets, tar, smke, minerals, plums and spices. This is a beautiful delineated Barbera with gorgeous freshness and clarity that carries though to the refined finish. Some of the weight of past vintages seems missing as the 2007 is built more on finesse rather than sheer power alone. The wine continues to grow in the glass, revealing plenty of minerality and long, pure finish. It is a terrific effort form La Spinetta. The Gallina spent 16-18 months in the French oak prior to being bottled. Anicipated maturity: 2011-2017. This is a highly successful set of new releases from La Spinetta. The winesshowgreat balance and class across the board.
What ripeness this shows, with dried red fruits and sliced orange on the nose. Full-bodied, with very good acidity and a long, flavorful finish. Drink now. 830 cases made.
The estate's 2005 Barbera d'Alba Gallina reveals a dark, purplish color. It is a sweet, well-delineated wine with layers of ripe dark fruit, violets minerals, smoke, plums and asphalt. In 2005 the Gallina is a more slender, smaller-scalated wine than is normally the case. Of Rivetti's top Barberas I usually prefer the Bionzo, but in 2005 it is the Gallina which offers greater complexity and harmony. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010. This a very strong set of releases from La Spinetta and proprietor Giorgio Rivetti. The 2004 Barbarescos are easily the best of his career. The wines still see 100% new Frech oak, but toast levels have been reduced and the Barbarescos now spend 12 months in oak rather than 18 months they saw in previous vintages.Both changes have had a remarkably positive effect in allowing more site-specific character and Nebbiolo fruit to come through. The 2003 Barolo Campe shows that Rivetti is making important strides with this wine as well. Only the 2005 Barberas are disappointing season. In the past La Spinetta was an estate that relied just as much on style as substance. The 2004 Barbarescos, and specially the Starderi, are the first wines that trully live up to the glamorous image that Giorgio Rivetti has masterfully succeeded in creating.
(these vines are now about 40 years old) Black ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of cassis, blackberry, smoke and dark chocolate. Large-scaled, fat and chewy; a broad, rich barbera that's distinctly rounder and more approachable than the Bionzo. Finishes with soft but serious tannins. I'd like to put this in a blind fights of California cabernets!.
The 2001 Barbera d'Alba Gallina, a full, dark ruby, is very spicy, with cloves and cedar intermingled with the plum and blackberry fruit. Very warm and generous on the palate (14.5?). It’s sweet fruit and luscious textured are kept fresh by the acidity and the minerals notes of the close. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2009.
The 2000 Barbera d'Alba Gallina was aged 16-18 months in new French oak. It offers an explosive bouquet of tobacco, sweet black fruits, licorice, and earth. Full-bodied, intense, and velvety- testured, with great palated presence. It should be consumed over the next 5-6 years to take advantaged of its exuberant.
The 1999 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is awesome! I am not sure it will get any better since Barbera is not one of the most noble varietals in terms of complexity and intensity. It does, however, offer glorious levels of concentration as well as a huge nose of smoked meats, blackberry, cherry, and strawberry jam with licorice, new oak, and barbecue spice. Viscous, remarkably dense ans sexy. It is impossible to resist. For drinking now and over the next 4-5 years, this is as profound a dry red wine as readers will find.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The opaque purple-colored 1998 Barbera d'Alba Gallina ( a top Barbaresco vineyard outside Neive) was aged in 100% new oak. It offers a glorious perfumed of chocolate, cedar, blackberries, cherry liqueur and smoke. This massive yet well-balanced, layered wine is explosive. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.
The 1997 Barbera d'Alba Gallina may be one of the finest Barberas ever produced in Italy. Opaque purple-colored, with soaring aromatics, huge density and richness, a voluptuous texture, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute, this mid-boggling effort should age gloriously for a decade or more.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The terrific, formidably-endowed, gorgeous pure, full-bodied 1996 Barbera d'Alba Gallina has soaked up its new oak beautifully. It possesses such phenomenal layers of concentrate black fruits, full body, and amazing glycerin and depth that it must be tasted to be believed.
Of Piedmont’s three principal red grape varieties, Barbera is the most representative of the region, producing a medium-bodied wine that is enjoyable young, but can also age quite well for a few years. This Barbera d’Alba spends more than a year in oak barrels, granting it the “Superiore” designation and making for a more expressive wine. An intense ruby red with violet reflections, red fruits with a hint of spice come through on the nose. A full, round palate is supported by the marked acidity typical of this variety, imparting freshness and a harmonious finish.
The 2022 Barbera D'Alba Superioreis slightly deeper ruby red and has a pretty, floral perfume of violets, fresh blackberries, and sweet herbs. The palate has a ripe, yet refreshing and snappy feel, and while it was a hot vintage, this is certainly an example where Barbera can retain its acidity and thrive. It’s crispy and fresh and has a delicate note of oak spice that frames the wine, followed by a lasting perfume on the finish. Drink over the next 10 years.
A hint of earthiness gives way to rose, rose hip, black cherry and raspberry in this racy red. Bursting with energy and charming, leaving a long, mouthwatering aftertaste. Drink now through 2029. 290 cases made, 97 cases imported.
A deeper, more opaque hue, the 2021 Barbera D'Alba Superiore offers notes of graphite, lavender, and plum. It is medium to full-bodied but doesn't feel weighted and has fresh acidity and sweet tannins. Its notes of berries and fresh herbs last long on a clean finish. Drink over the next 5-8 years.
The 2020 Barbera D'Alba Superiore is transparent with a rich ruby and youthful luminescence and is fragrant with the sweet perfume of blackberry, candied violets, and sweet herbs. It is medium bodied with freshness throughout and has a bit more depth. Drink 2023-2030.
This has depth and suppleness to the cherry, blackberry and plum fruit flavors, with flashes of violet and almond underlined by vibrant acidity and a mineral vein. Shows fine balance and length. Drink now through 2027. 290 cases made, 50 cases imported.
High-pitched and racy, evoking floral, blackberry and white pepper flavors. Pure, elegant and balanced, leaving a chalky feel on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 290 cases made.
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is a heady, exotic wine, Inky and deep in the glass, the Superiore captures all of the natural richness of this dry, warm year in its dark flavor profile and concentrated fel. Althought not at all subtle, the 2017 packs a real puch. Inky fruit, chocolate, leather, spice and menthol are all amped up in this decidedly flamboyant Barbera.
Many vintners have affirmed that 2016 is not an ideal vintage for Barbera. Evidently, Chiara Boschis never got the memo. She has crafted a lovely expression that boasts varietal richness and softness. The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore starts off with subtle and careful intensity. But as it takes on greater momentum in the glass, you begin to recognize dark fruit, etched mineral and black olive. The finish is polished and crisp. This Barbera reveals significant depth and lasting persistence.
The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is dense, voluptuous and full of appeal. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, menthol, licorice and spice build in a plush, explosive wine that shows just how compellingly delicious top-flight Barbera can be. I really love the balance here. And, of course, the 2016 is a pure pleasure to taste.
The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Superiore sees fruit sourced from various vineyard sites. Barbera is planted on the lower parts of the same vineyard parcels that produce the estate's best Nebbiolo. The wine undergoes a light and non-intrusive winemaking approach with one year of neutral oak. The results are extremely polished, clean and generous. Dark fruit, plum and spice appear on the finish.
Wonderful aromas of strawberry and lemon rind follow through to a full body with light tannins and a bright finish. Perfect now.
Though the Barbera grape from Asti usually tends to be crisper and sharper (when compared to the Barbera grape from Alba), the Ca’ di Pian exudes a rich concentration and relatively tame acidity, thanks to 45-year-old vines and low vineyard yields. Aromas of blueberry, wet earth and a hint of orange peel come through, and this Barbera’s full body and intensity are balanced by a silky smooth finish, combining richness with finesse.
Dark ruby magenta, the 2020 Barbera D’Asti Ca Di Pian was raised in second- and third-use French oak barrels. It’s highly aromatic, with loads sweet perfume of mixed red and black berries, ripe peaches, and violets. Medium-bodied, it moves seamlessly to the palate, with decadent ripe fruit and its floral notes lasting on the finish along with a bit of vanilla. Drink over the next 4-6 years.
The 2019 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is bold, juicy and full of up-front appeal, as it always is. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, chocolate, menthol and licorice are pushed forward in a fleshy, succulent Barbera that offers tons of appeal.
We like the polish to the tannins here with some berry, chocolate and spice aromas and flavors. Medium body. Smoke and bitter lemon on the finish. Drink now.
The La Spinetta 2019 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Ca' di Pian is dark, ripe and very concentrated. The wine offers lifted aromas of black and purple fruits with crushed stone or chalk at the back. The acidity is, of course, very present. There is a point of candied cherry sweetness that rides high on the bouquet. This is a solid food wine.
The 2018 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is plump, juicy and absolutely delicious. Dark cherry, plum, spice and chocolate are all kicked up in this succulent, open-knit Barbera from La Spinetta. Drink it over the next handful of years. As always, the Ca' di Pian overdelivers for the money.
A serious red with blackberry and some plum undertones. Dried mushroom, too. It’s full and slightly chewy with a flavorful finish. Drink now.
La Spinetta's 2016 Barbera d'Asti Ca di Pian is soft, plummy and very tasty. I would prefer to drink it over the next few years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Red and purplish berry fruit with a touch of spice is nicely pushed forward by bright acids. The 2016 is absolutely delicious, especially with a little aeration.
A rich and fruity wine with oyster shell and dark berry character. Some wet earth. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Serious. Well done for 2014. Drink now.
The Barbera grape from Asti tends to show crisper lines and sharper acidity when compared to the Barbera grape from Alba. However, this interpretation is more difficult to peg down. The 2014 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is a mid-weight effort with a dark appearance and rich concentration. Fruit comes from 45-year-old vines so that richness comes naturally. Yields were farmed low, and the wine's acidity has been greatly tamed as a result. This was a bad vintage for Barbera, but you would never know it, thanks to the high quality presented in this wine.
A tasty, entry-level wine, the 2013 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is juicy and flamboyant from the very first taste. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, chocolate, violets, lavender and sweet spice meld together in a deep, unctuous wine to drink now and over the next few years. This is a screaming value from La Spinetta.
Extremely perfumed with violet and blackberry aromas. Full body with firm, silky tannins and an attractive acid-fruit balance on the finish that titillates your palate. Drink now.
Black currant and bilberry fruit signals this fresh, vivid Barbera. It has light tannins, but overall shows balance and harmony. Lingering finish. Drink now through 2015. 8,400 cases made.
A bright and fruity red, with fresh raspberry and blackberry tart aromas. Full-bodied, with lots of fruits and soft, velvety tannins. Long and delicious. Drink now. 8,400 cases made.
The Bionzo is a big, concentrated, dense Barbera produced from old vines in Costigliole d’Asti. Nearly 18 months in oak (plus six in stainless steel and bottle), delivers an incredibly rich, structured wine with a plethora of perfumes including black cherry, cassis, gravel, smoke, chocolate, liquorice and menthol. Broad and silky with an incredibly depth of flavor, the characteristic richness of the Bionzo complements its acidity, finishing with smooth, slightly oaky tannins and a whole range of dark spices. This isn’t your average Barbera, this is a wine that will continue to evolve for 20-25 years.
Coming from a single vineyard about 15 minutes away from the winery, the 2021 Barbera D'Asti Superiore Bionzo was aged for 16-18 months in Tonneau and boasts an opaque ruby red color in the glass. The nose has a serious expression with savory and layered notes of leather, balsamic herbs, menthol, plum, and fresh soil. Full-bodied, it has a vertical feel through the palate and is undoubtedly a structured wine in this vintage, with a snappy, bright spine of acidity, lush, ripe fruit, and refined tannins. It is rich and intense and will benefit from more time. It has a lot of savory herbal notes and will do well to cellar. Drink 2026-2040.
The 2021 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is redolent of blackberry, gravel, incense, licorice, graphite and dark spice. As always, the Bionzo is a brooding Barbera from Asti although these days the wines aren't as huge as they were just a few years ago.
The La Spinetta 2020 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo sees fruit from vineyards in Costigliole d'Asti. This wine has a stemmy, almost vegetal quality with lots of rosemary and thyme, green curry and black pepper folded within dark, full-bodied fruit. It shows an inky color with medium-plus concentration.
A pretty and edgy barbera with dried berry and dark plum character with some earth. It's medium-bodied with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.
A very different product compared to the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Ca' di Pian, the 2018 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo shows dark and mature fruit with more oak, spice and softness. The fruit is concentrated and bold, showing broad-brush intensity with blackberry, plum and a pop of fresh acidity.
The 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is laced with the essence of blackberry jam, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks and menthol. This potent, structured Barbera from Asti needs a few years to unwind, but it is impressive. Like the Gallina, the Bionzo shows a transition to a style that is a bit less overt than in the past, but without sacrificing the intensity La Spinetta fans have come to expect. I would give the tannins a few years to soften.
Packed tight with black fruit and dried blackberry, the 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is an inky and darkly concentrated expression that brings on all the rich fruit of the vintage. There are subtle hints of spice, tar and campfire ash at the rear, but this vintage will be remembered for the depth and intensity of all that black primary fruit.
The 2016 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a super-clasic Asti Barbera with wonderfully delineated flavors and plenty structure. Clean mineral notes, spice, dried flowers, menthol and graphite all run through this potent yet super-refined Barbera that cries for cold weather and bold, lusty food on the table. When I think about what Asti Barbera should be, the Bionzo often comes to mind.
Bionzo is a vineyard site in Costigliole d'Asti planted to vines aged 80 years old or more. The La Spinetta 2016 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a bold wine that offers generous fruit, but then it pulls back with care to show elegance and complexity. The vibrant character of the fruit shines bright, as does the softness and textural richness of this vintage. Dried plum, blackberry and sweet cherry are backed by baking spice, tilled earth and cedar wood.
This is a fabulously polished Barbera with dark-berry and violet aromas and flavors. What strikes you is the wonderfully silky texture to this with a driven and focused finish. Such beauty. Drink now.
The 2015 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is dark, powerful and incredibly structured. Black cherry, gravel, smoke, chocolate, licorice and menthol are some of the many notes that run through this huge, concentrated Asti Barbera. Rich and also remarkably vivid, the 2015 has so much to offer. Crushed rocks, blackberry jam, menthol licorice and a whole range of dark spices build in this super-concentrated, dense Barbera from old vines in Costigliole d'Asti.
Aromas of blackcurrants, earth and cut grass. Full body, a dense and compact texture and a deep, long finish. Delicious and juicy. Lost of fruit and texture. Drink now or hold.
Barbera enthusiasts should drop whatever they are doing and actively seek this wine. The 2014 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a creation of inspiration and beauty—and not just because it defies logic that such a sumptuous wine could be made during a growing season that was harder on the Barbera grape above all. This is not the first rodeo for these old vines. Some sort of internal plant institutional memory has cleverly guided these vines though adverse growing conditions. Of these old vines, up to 20% are still planted on their original root stock, and those roots have penetrated profound depths. Indeed, this wine opens to an inky black, impenetrable appearance. Dark fruit aromas float slowly to the top. Efforts have been made to keep the alcohol low, but this powerful wine still registers 14.5% alcohol. Because of severe fruit selection, only 1,500 bottles were made in 2014, down from an average of 3,000 in an average vintage. This is a lovely wine.
Some blackberry and blueberry character. Dried mushroom understones. Full body, layered and rich with lots of ripe tannins and flavorful finish. Drink now.
The highlight in this range, the 2013 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is fabulous. Fresh cut flowers, mint, raspberry jam, rose petal and graphite give the 2013 much of its racy, layered personality. The Bionzo possesses exceptional energy and tension for such a big Barbera. Make no mistake about it: Bionzo is one of Piedmont's most distinctive wines. The 2013 is a fabulous edition.
A really excellent barbera with plenty of dried berries such as blueberries and blackberries. Full body, round tannins and a crisp, flavorful finish. I could drink the whole bottle myself.
A layered, fruity wine with violet, berry and dark-chocolate character. Full body, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows depth. Drink now.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
Another totallt gorgeous wine, the 2009 Barbera d'Asti Bionzo stands out for its exceptional pedigree. Layers of creamy, generous fruit wrap around the palate with lovely intensity that nearly buries the trademark of Asti acidity. But it is there, as is everything else, so the wine will drink beautifully for a number of years. Violets, cloves, pencil shavings and crushed rocks frame the long intensely saline finish. This is another impressive effort. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
(from 65- and 80-year-old vine): Bright ruby. Super ripe aromas of black fruits, violet, mint, menthol and licorice. Then juicy and firm in the mouth; less round and more angular than the Gallina, conveying a much stronger impression of calcaire minerality. Finishes with more structure and force.
The 2008 Barbera d'Asti Bionzo comes across as a bit closed in on itself. Intense mineral notes frame blackberries, sweet herbs and spices in this powerful, concentrate Barbera. Today the wine is a bit compact, but if it fills out might merit a higher score. The 2008 is very Asti in its slightly austere, reserved personality. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. This is a superb set of wines from Giorgio Rivetti. The 2008 Barbareschi are among the strongest wines of the year, while the 2007 Barolo Campe is the best wine to merge form Rivetti's vineyards in Grinzane Cavour. The La Spinetta style focusing on wines of great textural richness remains intact, but is dealed in to a greater degree with each passing vintage.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
The 2007 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is lacd with dark red fruits, graphite, spices and grilled herbs. The acidity of Asti is balanced by a vibrant, expressive core of dark red fruit in a style that is touch more linear than the Gallina. In the most vintages I prefer the Bionzo over the Gallina, but in 2007 the Bionzo seems to fall just a touch flat. The Bionzo spent 16-18 months in French oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. This is a high successful set of new releases from La Spinetta. The wines show great balance and class across the board.
(form 50-year old vines purchased in 2003; aged in all new barriques. Deep ruby color. Pungent aromas of blackberry and bitter chocolate. Sappy black and integrated oak flavors sharply framed by penetrating acidity. This boasts lovely inner- mouth aromatic character and mineral energy from the limestone-rich soil. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins. The crop level was just 18 hectoliters per hectare, according to Rivetti. Drink this now with full- flavored meat or hold it for five years.
Offers loads of crushed berry, with undertone of vanilla and green tea. Full-bodied, with big, round tannins and plenty of fruits. Balanced and luscious. Drink now. 2,950 cases made, 1,900 cases imported.
Juicy and fruity, with blackberry, licorice and light meat character. Full-bodied, with lots of fruits and a bright finish. Drink now. 2,915 cases made, 1,700 cases imported.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
This Barolo comes from 50+ year-old vines on the four-hectare (10 acres) Campè vineyard surrounding the winery in Grinzane Cavour. The Campè is powerful and imposing in the glass, with a distinctive nose of violets, blackcurrants and blueberries combined with more vegetal nuances for an overall impression of freshness. Graphite, smoke and leather add to the impressive depth and density of palate, while remaining vibrantly fruit-centric. Smooth tannins shape a distinguished, balanced and long wine, to drink now or hold for a few years to enjoy its evolution.
The 2021 Barolo Campe Vursu is a medium matte-red hue and leads with a wonderfully mineral-inflected, saturating nose of crushed stones, dried cherry, pine, spice, and wild herbs. The palate offers full-bodied structure, balanced richness, and ripe tannins that have a more rounded feel through the mid-palate. Campe comes from the vineyard's more exposed, higher section, whereas Garretti comes from the hill's lower slopes. Usually, they buy the fruit of Garretti for its approachability. However, the 2021 wines are somewhat flipped, with Garretti offering more nervous energy, and while the Campe is still structured, with the potential for longevity, it has a more velvety and approachable texture that fleshes out with air and makes it quite appealing. Drink 2026-2046.
Violets with roses as well as crushed cherries. The palate is full-bodied, currently with an imposing tannin structure that shows some bright, albeit greenish, defined fruit on the horizon. Needs some time, but should evolve into an exceptional wine.
Rich and inviting Barolo with notes of peach pits, sandalwood, red cherries, sweet basil and potpourri. It’s full-bodied and encompassing with fine-grained, powdery tannins. Powerful fruit.
The La Spinetta 2020 Barolo Campè Vürsù depicts a lion on the label that represents the "king of wines, the wine of kings" as Barolo is often described. It has a dark core of fruit with smoky layers of campfire ash and flinty stone. The definition is medium-sharp and the wine reveals a darkly concentrated appearance. The bouquet is still a little closed at this young stage and in need of a more cellaring.
A little more reigned in and reserved at this stage, the 2020 Barolo Campe Vursu is noted with tangerine citrus, spices, pomegranate, and anise. Medium-bodied, it’s mouthwatering out of the gate, with loads of mineral underpinnings, fine-grained but present tannins, and bright acidity. Well balanced and not austere, I like the energy and linear feel this wine has to offer. It’s going to show at its best over the next 10-12 years. Drink 2026-2036.
The 2020 Barolo Campè is an attractive, open-knit Barolo from La Spinetta. The flavors are on the forward side. Sweet dried cherry, mint, spice, leather and tobacco linger. Drink this over the next decade.
The La Spinetta 2019 Barolo Campè Vürsù is balanced and bright with a little more heft and overall fruit concentration. Dried cherry, blackberry, spice and black licorice all appear on the bouquet. This is smooth in consistency but shows a long, polished mouthfeel that is especially tight and elegant in this vintage.
Aromas of rose petal and stem with ripe plums and cinnamon. Full-bodied and very chewy with plenty of velvety tannins and rich fruit in the finish. This needs time to soften. Savory.
The 2019 Barolo Campè is a powerful, dense wine. All the elements are turned up, maybe too much so. A blast of dark fruit, leather, smoke, incense and chocolate hits the palate, framed by swaths of muscular tannin that add intensity.
A solid and powerful 2018 with plum, earth, black truffle and mahogany aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, chewy and rich at the end for the vintage. Try after 2025.
Boasting an orange lion on the label meant to symbolize "Barolo, the king on wines," the La Spinetta 2018 Barolo Campè Vürsù is bold, elegant and firm. In a vintage that often delivers understated wines, this expression feels especially intense, ripe and thickly layered. Dark fruit, plum, earth and spice rose from the bouquet. The tannins stand out in the 2018.
La Spinetta's 2018 Barolo Campè possesses uncommon depth for the year. There's terrific breadth in the dark red cherry/plum fruit. New leather, spice, tobacco, menthol, licorice and orange peel notes. Like all wines in 2018, the Campè is on the lighter side. Even so, proprietor Giorgio Rivetti clearly got the best out of the vintage.
This is really something, with superb concentration of fruit and tannins. It’s powerful yet harmonious with a muscular sense and agile feel. Blackberries and strawberries with bark and wet-earth undertones. Goes on for a long time on the palate. Give it three to five years of bottle age to come around. Best after 2024.
The La Spinetta 2017 Barolo Campè Vürsù sources its fruit from the Garretti vineyard in Grinzane Cavour. The wine shows depth, vertical intensity and quite an impressive range of aromas that span redcurrant and berry to hazelnut paste and earthy truffle. Despite the shiny ruby appearance of the wine, this is a full-bodied Barolo with plenty of power and true grit, or what the Italians call "grinta." Give those nervous tannins time and patience.
The 2017 Barolo Campè is a very pretty, elegant wine. Proprietor Giorgio Rivetti did everything right with the 2017, a wine that is so harmonious in the early going. The Campè is bright, punchy and so expressive. A spine of tannin gives the wine energy and shape, with all the elements so nicely balanced. Another few years in bottle will help immeasurably.
The 2016 Barolo Campe is superb. Dark, potent and powerful, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity to match its dark , virile personality. More than anything else, in the 2016 the Campe offers a captivating interplay of fruit and structure. The 2016 is not a shy wine; rather it is a rich and hedonistic to the core, while maintaining a striking sense of translucence. Black cherry, chocolate, espresso, licorice and clove all build in to the huge finish. In a word: Superb. In the 2016 Giorgio Rivetti and his team made a Barolo with a sense of classicism I have never seen before to this degree in a La Spinetta wine.
The Campè vineyard is above Garretti in Grinzane Cavour. La Spinetta's 2016 Barolo Campè Vürsù draws its fruit from the upper part of the vineyard where the topsoils are shallow and the vines are oldest, aged 70+ years. Fruit comes from a three-hectare site with beautiful southern exposures. This beautiful wine opens to a velvety and dark appearance with dark garnet highlights. To the nose, it produces dark primary fruit with dried blackberry and plum, but you also get savory notes of spice, tar and dried licorice root. The wine shows a firm backbone, but the tannins are nicely tucked into the greater fiber and power of the mouthfeel.
As always, this shows loads of dried flowers and dried peaches and persimmons; it’s a ripe and unique wine. A cascade of tannins follows, enveloping the mouth in chewy sensations from top to bottom, flanked in dried-berry flavors. Full-bodied and dense, but agile and inviting. Drink in 2026.
A rich, lush version, this Barolo evokes raspberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Well-structured, building to a long, fruit-, eucalyptus- and spice-filled finish. Shows excellent balance, yet will need time to come together. Best from 2023 through 2042.
Exuberant aromas of fresh cherry, crushed rose petal and mint lead into juicy red-cherry and raspberry flavors. The wine rested for two years in French oak barriques, gaining sultry black spice notes and polished tannins.
Very distinctive nose with violets and very pure blackcurrants and blueberries, as well as leafy nuances, all of which deliver a fresh impression. The palate has impressive depth and density and the cool, blue fruit at the center sits fresh and vibrant. Smoothly resolved tannins shape a distinguished, balanced and long palate. Drink or hold.
This Barolo has a nice dose of soft spice and an accessible and upfront style. The 2015 Barolo Campè Vürsù is a dark and velvety wine with lots of dark intensity. You could wait for more tertiary aromas to evolve or easily pop this bottle open in a year or two with some braised short ribs. The wine sees 24 months of oak. Some 9,000 bottles we’re produced.
La Spinetta's 2015 Barolo Campè is one of the wines in this vintage that will drink well right out of the gate. Broad and ample on the palate, the 2015 possesses tremendous textural richness and sheer volume. Black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and chocolate abound in this inviting Barolo from La Spinetta. The 2015 is decidedly racy and exotic in style, both of which adds to its considerable allure.
Raspberry and violet aromas are augmented by wild herb notes of juniper and thyme, plus a hint of tobacco, in this tightly knit red. Elegant and firmly structured, with a long aftertaste of macerated fruit and savory. Decant now or age for a few years. Best from 2022 through 2040. 137 cases imported.
Fruit for this wine comes from the highest elevation segment of the vineyard where the crop is deemed most elegant. The 2014 Barolo Campè Vürsù shows depth and complexity with a exciting playlist of small berry, spice and wild herb aromas. Crushed river stone and granite play supporting roles. This Barolo is recognized for its freshness and elegance above all else.
The 2014 Barolo Campè is a touch slender, but very nicely balanced. Sweet red cherry and plum fruit gain a good bit of lift from the expressive floral and spice nuances that develop in the glass. A dash of new oak adds accents, but is also well balanced. Today, the 2014 gives the impression that it will drink well early and also develop at a fast pace - but then again, with Nebbiolo you never really know. The Campè emerges from the middle tenderloin of La Spinetta's Garretti vineyard in Grinzane Cavour.
Rich and complex aromas to this young Barolo with crushed raspberries, blueberries, hot stones and orange juice. Medium to full body, ripe and structured tannins and a vertical, exciting finish. I like the tension here. Delicious now. But two or three years will make it even better.
Intense aromas of sweet tobacco, strawberries and light meat. Full body, soft and silky tannins and a beautiful finish. So much fruit here. Drink in 2019.
This wine was released last year, but I never had the opportunity to taste it back then. Giorgio Rivetti was kind enough to open a bottle of the beautiful 2013 Barolo Campè Vürsù so that I could fill in the void in the database. This is an impactful and exceptional wine from a classic vintage. The fruit has had time to integrate, and the aromas appear wrinkle-free today with wild berry that segues directly to spice, tar and ash. These are beautiful results.
La Spinetta's 2013 Barolo Campè is bright, intense and driven, with beams of acidity and tannin that give the wine its shape. In 2013, the Campè offers a good bit of tension and overall structure that works to balance the overt fruit that is such a Spinetta signature. Even so, the palate feel is one of creaminess and supple texture, which makes this a rare 2013 that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Sweet red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, rose petal and anise meld into the super-expressive finish. This is another impressive Barolo from La Spinetta. The 2013 was aged in a combination of cask, new French oak and used French oak.
A sinewy red, with a tight grain to the dense tannins, supporting cherry, raspberry, Szechuan peppercorn and tobacco flavors in the right proportions. Fine length. Opens up with air, but this will be better in several years. Best from 2021 through 2038.
The 2012 Barolo Campe is tannic and imposing, with less near term appeal than is typically found here. Beams of tannins give the 2012 much of its shape and overall energy, but it is the translucence of the fruit that is the most unique signature. The stylistic shift that has taken place over the last few years is evident. Red raspberry, mint, rose peatl, sweet tobacco and French oak meld into the deep, layered finish.
The 2011 Barolo Campe is an incredibly silky, polished wine. Freshly cut flowers, spices, mint, cinnamon and raspberry are all laced together in the glass. In most vintages, the Campe is quite overt, but for now what comes through in the 2011 is more about finesse. It looks like the team made all the picking decisions at the right time. This is a terrific showing from La Spinetta.
Lots of flowers, stem and berry character on the nose. ItÍs full body, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Big and powerful for the vintage. Needs at least five years of bottle age. Try in 2019.
The 2010 Barolo Campe is sourced from the upper blocks of Giorgio Rivetti's Campe property in Grinzane Cavour. A bit, potent wine, the 2010 Riserva still packs plenty of tannic punch. I have seen these wines develop beautifully with time, but that moment has still not arrived here. Readers should plan on cellaring the Riserva for at least antoher few years. Game, smoke, tobacco licorice and sweet new oak play off a core of intense Nebbiolo fruit. Give thistime. Bottled only in magnum.
The delicious 2010 Barolo Campè Vürsù is a smoky and sophisticated Nebbiolo with sultry and seductive appeal. The wine boasts a layered bouquet that sees elements of dark fruit, spice, leather, licorice and molasses. Each sniff opens a whole new realm of aromatic possibilities. I also love the way this wine feels in the mouth; It shows a deep sense of silky smoothness, but there is power and determination here at the same time.
Eucalyptus, menthol, floral, raspberry and blueberry aromas and flavors signal this elegant, firmly structured red. Persistent, lingering with berry, spice and mineral accents tinged by underbrush hints. Best from 2018 through 2030. 1,600 cases made, 150 cases imported.
A rich and chewy red with cedar, shaved chocolate and loads of ripe fruit. Full body, lots of tannins and a rich and flavorful finish. This is a 2009 Barolo that needs lots of bottle age to soften the powerful tannins. Try in 2016.
The 2009 Barolo Vigneto Campe is located a mere 20 meters above Vigneto Garetti but you can already feel the difference in terms of the wine’s extra softness and power. This wine presents rounder and riper aromas of dried raspberry and blackberry. Fruit was harvested ten days before Vigneto Garetti. There is a noticeable difference in the quality of the tannins. Here they are silkier and sweeter. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
Good medium red. Cherry liqueur, plum and marzipan on the nose. Richer and thicker than the Vigneto Garretti, with excellent concentration to the flavors of red cherry, redcurrant, tobacco and spices. Tactile, chewy wine with a saline quality and very good energy. Finishes with substantial sweet tannins and lovely length. A classic 2009 Barolo that will give early pleasure but last well.
Intense aromas of balsamic and underbrush give way to black currant and cherry flavors in this powerful red. The tannins are assertive and resonate on the savory and woodsy finish. Best from 2016 through 2032. 1,000 cases made.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
A strong and chewy wine with polished and rich tannins. Cedar and mushrooms. Full and intense. Goes on for minutes. Finish goes to flowers and dried fruits. Powerful yet enjoyable. Better in 2015.
Good full red. Knockout nose combines pure red fruits, mocha, rose petal, red licorice and sexy oak tones, plus a hint of peach. Urgent and highly concentrated, offering an uncanny combination of richness and definition. The penetrating red fruit and floral flavors capture the energy of this vintage at its best. Finishes with firm, noble tannins and outstanding persistence. This should age in bottle for a long time. - Stephen Tanzer
The 2008 Barolo Campe’ emerges from the glass with freshly cut flowers, mint, licorice and spices. This is a decidedly elegant, polished Barolo that stands apart from some of the more obvious wines made here in the past. Although initially quite delicate, the 2008 turns powerful and deep with exposure to air. The authoritative finish leaves a lasting impression. Cool, mineral notes add an underlying sense of tension and energy that is highly appealing. This is a fabulous showing from La Spinetta. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.
A rich, ripe style, sporting black currant, violet, blueberry and underbrush flavors, backed by firm tannins. Still austere on the finish, but there's ample fruit. Turns more elegant in the end. Best from 2016 through 2030. 600 cases made.
Big, burly and tannic as a Barolo from Grinzane Cavour always ought to be; the classic 2008 vintage also contributes to an austere quality to the red berry and cherry notes. Finishes with a violet topnote and outstanding persistence. Tasted at the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter Shanghai, November 2015.
There is no doubt the 2007 Barolo Campe is impressive. It is a beautifully balanced wine layered with opulent, super-ripe fruit, new leather and licorice. The French oak is beautifully balanced in this broad-shouldered Barolo, while the fruit avoids the overripe tendencies of the past. The wine holds up perfectly in the glass, which hasn’t always been the case. Tar, licorice and spices wrap around the intense finish. This is the finest vintage of Campe to date. Kudos to Giorgio Rivetti and his team for this fabulous effort. To be released in 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Full red. Deep, youthfully reticent aromas of red fruits and cocoa powder. Richer and deeper than the 2008 but much less expressive today and a bit more angular. Surprising acidity is nicely supported by a strong impression of dry extract. This very rich but classically dry Barolo finishes with outstanding breadth and length but will need at least as long in the cellar as the 2008, which is sexier today. - Stephen Tanzer
Decadent and yummy, with so much ripe fruit and meaty undertones. Full bodied, with velvety tannins and loads of everything. So much rose petal and berry notes. Love the finish. Give it four to five years before opening.
A rangy, feral red, revealing flavors of eucalyptus, medicinal herbs and leather, accented by oak. There's a beam of black currant fruit underneath, and this has stiff tannins on the finish now, so be patient. Best from 2015 through 2035. 0850 cases made.
The 2006 Barolo Campe' is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta. A deep, translucent red, the Campe' opens with a captivating bouquet of roses, spices, flowers and cherries, all of which resonate on the palate. The wine turns muscular in the glass, with powerful tannins that frame the expressive, generous fruit. There is plenty of richness and concentration, yet without the over-ripeness and excessive oakiness of past vintages. Smoke, tar and herbs are just some of the nuances that come to life as the dense fruit provides a wonderful foil to the tannins on the finish. This, too, is a terrific effort from La Spinetta. The 2006 Campe' was fermented in rotary tanks for 7-8 days and underwent malolactic fermentation in new French oak, where the wine was aged for 24 months prior to being bottled.
The 2006 Barolo Campe’ is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta. A deep, translucent red, the Campe’ opens with a captivating bouquet of roses, spices, flowers and cherries, all of which resonate on the palate. The wine turns muscular in the glass, with powerful tannins that frame the expressive, generous fruit. There is plenty of richness and concentration, yet without the over-ripeness and excessive oakiness of past vintages. Smoke, tar and herbs are just some of the nuances that come to life as the dense fruit provides a wonderful foil to the tannins on the finish. This, too, is a terrific effort from La Spinetta. The 2006 Campe’ was fermented in rotary tanks for 7-8 days and underwent malolactic fermentation in new French oak, where the wine was aged for 24 months prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.
Good deep red. Quite closed on the nose. Dense, sweet and powerful but very primary today, even a bit mute. This has plenty of acid spine and building, toothcoating tannins but is much harder to taste today than the 2005. In a less elegant style but quite promising nonetheless, and riper. - Stephen Tanzer
Intense ripe berry and dried fruit on the nose, with rose petal. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and mahogany, fruity, almost nutty undertone. Ripe and round. Very soft and pretty. Best from 2011 through 2015. 1,500 case made, 675 cases imported.
Good full red. Highly nuanced nose melds redcurrant, menthol, truffle, marzipan, dried flowers and spicy oak. Then sweet, creamy and surprisingly open-knit, with very good depth and complexity to the flavors of strawberry and dried flowers. The floral quality and an herbal element give lift to this very fresh wine. Rivetti told me he carried out three green harvests in 2005, which allowed him to bring in fully ripe fruit before the damaging early October rains. - Stephen Tanzer
Slightly earthy, with mushroom and very ripe fruit. Almost pruny. Transforms to gorgeous fruit. Full-bodied, with spicy, meaty and super ripe fruit flavors. Chewy and tannic. Big and rich. Turns exotic. This is massive, with impressive structure. Best after 2013.
Insane aromas of white truffles, plums and meat follow through to full body, with big chewy tannins and loads of fruit and toasted oak. Round and chewy. Sill needs time to soften the tannins but exotic and sexy. This is a late release in magnums. Try in 2015.
The 2004 Barolo Riserva Campè is deeper, richer and darker than the straight Campè bottling. Interestingly, the French oak is also better balanced. Today, the 2004 boasts considerable intensity and resonance, both of which suggest it will drink well for a number of years. All the elements are very nicely balanced in an opulent, lush Barolo built on texture.
The 2004 Barolo Campe has put on quite a bit of weight since it was bottled. This massive, powerful Barolo flows from the glass with its signature over-ripe aromatics and masses of dark fruit, tobacco, leather and spices. The tannins build impressively on the long finish. Buckle your chinstraps, this is not a wine for the timid. Ultimately, I am not sure there is enough fruit to stand up to the wine’s structural components over the long-term. In choosing to bottle riservas from his best vines (see below) Rivetti is running the risk of compromising his non-riserva bottlings. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Two years of aging in French oak help shape the overall quality of this beautiful wine. It opens with a luminous garnet color and segues to aromas of spice, anise seed, mineral and black fruit. This is a penetrating interpretation of Nebbiolo with firm tannins and a powerful finish.
Shows aromas of flowers and berries, with hint of vanilla and a touch of rosebut. Full-bodied and very concentrated, with big, chewy tannins and a long, powerful finish. Loaded with fruit and layered, with impressive concentration. A blockbuster. Best after 2011.
The 2003 Barolo Campe has developed beautifully and gained notable focus since I first tasted it from barrel a few years ago. It opens with a huge, overripe nose that leads to a powerful expression of earthiness, spices and sweet fruit, with mentholated, balsamic overtones. Made in dense, powerful style, it offers outstanding length and a long, building finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018.
(15% alcohol) Impressive red-ruby color. Aromas of black raspberry, menthol, mint and caramel, with a whiff of roasted fruits in the deep background. Lush, sweet, broad and a bit closed, with less cut and life than the '04. Finishes with some alcoholic warmth and huge tannins that coat the incisors.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
A rich and decadent wine with plum, berry and grilled meat on the nose. Full-bodied, with big chewy tannins and a velvety texture. Long and rich. A beauty. Best after 2008.
Full medium red. Aromas of graphite, rose petal and gunflint. Plum p and full in the mouth, but also highly aromatic, thanks to its floral and mineral components. Still, this rather saline, dry, serious Barolo is a bit youthfully aggressive today, and much less obviously sweet than Rivetti's Barbarescos. Finishes with building tannins. Very promising young Barolo, from chalk-rich soil similar to that found in Gallina and Starderi.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
This is wonderfully perfumed and classy with roses, berries and cherries. Full-bodied, with layers of fruit and tannis that unfold in your mouth, with a velvety texture and a wonderful length. If you missed the first release, get this. It's been aged an additional nine months in barrel. 1,500 magnums made. Best after 2010. 250 cases made.
The 2000 Barolo Campe, the first which Rivetti has made, is very fresh and vigorous for a wine from this hot vintage. Spicy and balsamic in aroma with much tar and chocolate as well, dense flavors, much length and intensity, and a sizeable but supple close. Already quite approachable, it will last another decade and a half.
Good deep medium red. Roasted, smoky nose hints at menthol. Fat, large-scaled and powerful; comes across as sweeter than the 2001 but less refined, despite possessing solid underlying minerality. Showing more shoulders today than the 2001. Finishes with lovely ripe tannins and excellent breadth.
Grapes for the magnum Riserva come exclusively from the highest part of the Campè vineyard, the best location for these sustainably-farmed vines, tended without the use of pesticides or herbicides (or even tractors or heavy machinery that might compress the earth). The result is a harvest of the purest, most exceptional grapes, which are then transformed into an intense vibrant red wine, with subtle and complex aromas of strawberries, red roses, citrus and fresh hazelnuts. This is full- bodied, yet reserved and beautiful Barolo with an incredible backbone of firm, composed tannins. The silky texture and extraordinary depth of fruit mesmerize up to the very end of the Campè Riserva’s long, long finish. Released 10 years after harvest.
The 2010 Barolo Riserva Campè is sourced from the upper blocks of Giorgio Rivetti's Campè property in Grinzane Cavour. A big, potent wine, the 2010 Riserva still packs plenty of tannic punch. I have seen these wines develop beautifully with time, but that moment has still not arrived here. Readers should plan on cellaring the Riserva for at last another few years. Game, smoke, tobacco licorice and sweet new oak play off a core of intense Nebbiolo fruit. Give this time. Bottled only in magnum.
An homage to Barolo, the so-called "king of wines," this magnum features a lion on its front label instead of the estate's trademark rhinoceros. The La Spinetta 2009 Barolo Riserva Campè Vürsù (Magnum) is a rare and precious wine with only 600 magnums in existence. Its sheer power roars from within, thanks to a long series of dark and variety-driven aromas. Dried cherry, blackberry, tilled earth, black licorice, exotic spice and campfire ash play leading roles. This vintage also presents balsamic tones of cola, dried ginger and grilled rosemary. It wraps thickly over the palate with integrated tannins and rich textural support.
The 2009 Barolo Riserva Campe emerges from the upper blocks at La Spinetta's estate vineyard in Grinzane Cavour and is bottled only in magnum. A rich, ample wine, 2009 has aged beautifully. Sweet red cherry, cinnamon, white chocolate and flowers are some of the notes that build in the glass. The 2009 has volume, persistence and a good deal of freshness to match. Tasted today, eleven years after the vintage, the 2009 clearly harkens back to a time when the wines were more marked by French oak than they are today. Readers who can look past that will find a sweeping, grand, modern-style Barolo that hits all the right notes. Even though the oak imprint is a bit strong in some vintages of this era, Giorgio Rivetti's wines have proven to age very well. Tasted a day after the opening, the 2009 has lost none of its allure.
The 2008 Barolo Riserva Campe Vursu (Magnum) seems to be the most evolved and nuanced of all of the offering from La Spinetta in tasting. It is a dark and well-saturated red wine that just keeps on giving. As this wine continues to unfold over the next decade, watch for more extraordinary notes of pipe tobacco, cola, licorice and hopefully some retained earthy tones of truffle and herbs. This magnum would be a treasure in any cellar.
The 2008 Barolo Campe (magnum) has aged impeccably. Gracious, silky and perfumed, with striking red berry fruit, the 2008 is in a gorgeous place for drinking now. Readers who own the 2008 in magnum are in for a real treat. The 2008 is floral, lifted and incredibly refined. It is also one of the most complete and alluring wines I have tasted from La Spinetta.
I tasted some beautiful Barbarescos before this sample, but the power and the vigor of the Barolo appellation comes through with undeniable clarity here. The 2007 Barolo Riserva Campè Vürsù (Magnum) is a wine of muscle, brawn and fortitude. It shows more textural tightness and density than the Barbarescos of the same vintage (also in magnum) that are softer amd more streamlined in comparison. This gorgeous bottle opens to dark furit, black currant, spice, cola and earthy truffle. Ultimately, this wine's most memorable quality is velvety, tightly-knit nature of its mouthfeel.
Tested from magnum, the 2005 Barolo Riserva Vigneto Campe Vursu exhibits a dark, brooding and impenetrable personality. This is a broad and sweeping extression of Nebbiolo that rests on big shoulders and significant muscle mass. The nose is redolent of black fruit, balckberry preserves, tar, licorice, brown sugar, pipe tobacco and white truffle. It is structured and firm on the palate, but it also imparts velevety softness and silkiness. This wine offers a complete package and reveals a fascinating view onto ten-year-old Barolo that was specifically engineered for aging in magnum. The brightness and freshness of the wine makes it feel ten years younger.
This wine was tested in a magnum. The 2004 Barolo Riserva Vigneto Campe is made with fruit from the highest part of the hill. Luscious and bright, this deeply textured wine puts on a fascinating array of ever-changing aromas. You get licorice, pipe tobacco, black fruit, cassis, tar, rosehip and dried herb. The excellent 2004 vintage has shaped silky, long tannins with the blackbone to carry the wine throughout the years. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. Giorgio Rivetti has unveiled a stunning line of new wines, and a few surprises as well, form his impeccable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzane Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo will only be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of theses special releases. Giorgio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shaped hill and is planted with 55- to 60-year old Nebbiolo vines.
La Spinetta's 2004 Barolo Riserva Campe emerges from choice hilltop parcels and is bottled only in magnum. Dark, rich and imposing, the 2004 flows across the palate with intense black fruit, smoke, licorice and tobacco. At nearly ten years of age, the 2004 has aged impeccably. There are virtually no hard edges in this large-scaled Barolo. Readers can look forward to another decade or more of fine drinking. Magnum.
This is wondefully perfumed and classy with roses, berries and cherries. Full-bodied, with layers of fruit and tannins that unfolded in your mouth, with a velvety texture and a wonderful lengh. If you missed the first release, get this. It's been aged an additional nine months in barrel, 1,500 magnums made. Best after 2010. 250 cases made.
The soil composition (a perfectly amalgamated mix of Tortonian and Helvetian soils, particularly rich in sand) and an ideal southern-facing vineyard exposition allow Chiara to produce an extraordinarily harmonious wine from Cannubi, the most famous Cru vineyard in all of Barolo. This is a regal wine whose nose expresses a myriad of sweet perfumes of spice and ripe fruit accompanied by the typical balsamic (mint and eucalyptus) notes characteristic of this unique vineyard. On the palate, an impressive structure and decisive tannins are complimented by a long, elegant finish.
Aromas of red fruit, dried herbs, cola, earth and a touch of licorice. Medium- to full-bodied with chewy but not overbearing tannins, neat fruit flavors and a subtly chewy finish. A very absorbing wine. Already approachable, but it will improve with a year of cellaring. Best from 2026.
This is a phenomenal wine that highlights the hard work and expertise of Chiara Boschis and her brother Giorgio. The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Cannubi is made with organic Nebbiolo clones of Michet and Lampia planted in a tiny 0.7-hectare plot at 300 meters above sea level on the powdery white limestone soils from the Miocene epoch that characterize this celebrated cru. The wine is refined and delicate with rose hip, violet and pure cherry essence. The aromas are stacked with soaring vertical intensity, and they give this wine an especially bright and lifted bouquet. The mouthfeel outperforms most of its peers thanks to its tight and silky essence and the clean powdery feel of its tannins. The Cannubi is showing very nicely now, but the Mosconi could benefit from more time in bottle. This is a limited release.
The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is a jeweled ruby color and is fragrant, floral, and complex with aromas of fresh flowers, black raspberries, cherries, fresh spice, and sweet orange citrus. Medium-bodied, the palate is highly elegant and graceful, with refined, even tannins, ripe acidity, and a long finish with a great feel throughout. This continues to be one of the top expressions coming out of Cannubi and offers both immediate pleasure and a wide window for enjoyment over the coming decades.
The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is pure sensuality. Creamy, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, spice, blood orange and lavender. Everything here speaks to balance. Pretty floral top notes lift the eternal, saline finish. The 2021 is impeccably done. It’s a very pretty and complete Barolo from Chiara Boschis.
Nervy and complex nose with excellent depth. Oranges, nutmeg, steel, mineral and a touch of white pepper and oyster shell. Broad and expansive on the palate with very structured, chalky tannins that extend to a lengthy, mineral finish. Long and youthful. From organically grown grapes. Can drink now, but better from 2027.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Cannubi is a fine and delicate wine, although there is a little more grit and richness in this warm vintage. The quality of the fruit is exceptional, especially its crisp ripeness. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, rose blossom, pink pepper and white limestone add considerable high-toned notes. The freshness is great and the fruit stays juicy, fueling a long, elegant finish.
A well of pure cherry bubbles up in this red, complemented by rose, strawberry, mineral, wet pine and underbrush aromas and flavors. Though exuding finesse, this is layered with chalky tannins, yet still extends with a kaleidoscope of red fruit, mineral and savory notes on the long finish. Best from 2028 through 2046.
The talented Chiara Boschis has produced a gem from this cru in 2020. Fermented in stainless steel with multiple punchdowns per day (but no submerged cap), it's then racked off early and aged for 24 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Pure mint and liquorice scents with deep dried cherry, leather and blood orange notes. Very elegant with great persistence and a classic finish.
The 2020 Barolo Cannubi is elegant, silky and nuanced. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, cinnamon and orange peel lend notable aromatic presence to this mid-weight, understated Barolo. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout. The 2020 is a pretty wine, but this a lighter style, even for Cannubi. The lighter body makes the tannins feel a touch austere. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
A 'blessed' vintage for one of the family’s historic crus, wine of density and crunchy tension. Nose with notes of cranberry, with touches of blood orange and licorice root, with classic mentholated finish. At the palate brackish-sapid tannins and fruity-mentholated return.
The 2019 Barolo Cannubi is flat-out stunning. Rich and beautifully textured, the 2019 dazzles from start to finish. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, salt and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Chiara Boschis. Sweet floral and spice overtones build into the finish. The precision here is unreal. Aging in cask works so well here. What a wine!
I had the chance to walk the Cannubi vineyard with Chiara Boschis this past fall. You really don't get a sense of how steep the inclines are and how powdery the soils are until you are there, struggling with each difficult step. She navigates the difficult terrain effortlessly. The 2019 Barolo Cannubi shows an etched or three-dimensional quality with sharp fruit flavors, blue flower and chalky stone. There were some weather extremes during the growing season, but everything balanced out in the end. Phenolic ripeness was easily achieved. Chiara Boschis describes 2019 as a cross between 2016 and 2017. In her portfolio, Via Nuova is the classic Barolo, Mosconi has the power and Cannubi shows the finesse of Nebbiolo. We fight with a bow and arrow, not with a nuclear bomb," says Chiara Boschis of her ongoing efforts to convert all the vintners in the Cannubi cru over to organics. She has almost succeeded in her goal, although a few holdouts remain. Her inspiring Cannubi Bio project is why E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis is a recipient of the Robert Parker Green Emblem award.
Bright, royal ruby red. On the nose, rich notes of black currant, liquorice, subtle notes of red cherries, jasmine, cedar. On the palate, polished, elegant, with juicy tannins, beautiful fruit, a harmonious interplay of textures and flavours, great length.
A very refined yet structured Cannubi with fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium body with lovely succulent fruit of plums, berries and cedar. Persistent finish with citrus undertones inthe aftertaste. From organically grown grapes.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2018 Barolo Cannubi is a lovely wine with a classic playlist of true Nebbiolo aromas. This certified organic wine exhibits wild berry, rose, dried lilac and an earthy touch of white truffle. However, the floral aromas and the lifted fruit are the protagonists in this balanced expression. Chiara farms less than one hectare (just over 6,000 square meters) in the celebrated Cannubi MGA with ancient calcareous clay soils from the Miocene era. Production is limited to 3,594 bottles. This is one of the best wines of the vintage.
Clear medium dense ruby with a pronounced garnet rim. Very appealing and intense nose of ripe, dark wild raspberries, prunes and also some rhubarb and cranberry. Grippy, spicy tannins, multi-layered, lots of ripe, vivid fruit, firm drive and fine texture on the finish.
Elegant and seamless for such a young red, exhibiting rose, cherry, mint, menthol and mineral flavors. Firm yet balanced and long, with echoes of cherry and menthol on the saline finish. Best from 2025 through 2042.
Deep and seductive on the nose and palate with crushed red berries and a soft mineral base. Full-bodied with very silky tannins that are already melded into the wine. More linear, drinkable quality to this in 2018. From organically grown grapes. Compact and delicious even now, but better with another year in bottle.
The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is soft, open-knit and gracious, as wines from this vintage tend to be. Silky contours and pliant fruit add to its appeal and overall immediacy. The 2018 is a real charmer. It's understated personality will be easy to appreciate upon release. Sweet red cherry, cinnamon, mint, cedar and dried rose petal linger nicely, with pretty sweet floral notes that continue to open over time.
Plums and ripe strawberries with some crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied and layered with round, rich tannins and an intensely fruity finish. But then, some fine tannins that are cashmere-like. A little tight at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2024.
The Barolo Cannubi is absolutely gorgeous in 2017. Hot and brutally dry conditions notwithstanding, the Cannubi is creamy and sensual in the glass, with impeccable balance, soft, racy edges and tons of allure. It is easily one of the most sensual, compelling Barolos of the year. Ripe dark red/purplish fruit, spice, mint and cedar meld into the beautifully textured, resonant finish. I am so impressed with the wine's freshness. Perhaps the anti-hail netting helped keep some shade on the fruit. What a wine.
Chiara Boschis is a historic proponent of organic farming, and she lobbied to make the entire Cannubi cru a certified organic vineyard. Her 2017 Barolo Cannubi shows terrific balance and clean intensity in a vintage that presented quite a few challenges across the appellation due to the heat and drought, along with other issues such as an unexpected frost in April, but that caused the biggest damage to the lowest elevations. The Cannubi is less overtly fruity than the blended Via Nuova or the Mosconi. Instead, it has a more prominent saline imprint with mineral and crushed limestone. However, the quality of the tannins in this release is superior and silkier, and that added structure and focus give the Cannubi the longest drinking window in my opinion of these three new releases.
The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Cannubi is a gorgeous wine that affirms the classic beauty of Nebbiolo. This wine is like a statue of a Grecian goddess with perfect proportions and feminine aesthetic appeal. The bouquet peels back to reveal many layers with bright fruit, white pepper, mint, orange peel and tangy licorice. The tannins are polished and fine with a touch of that distinctive limestone chalkiness that you sometimes taste in Cannubi. Vivid acidity seals the deal on this supremely elegant, fresh and graceful wine. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
The 2016 Barolo Cannubi is beautifully perfumed and gracious. Sweet red berry, kirsch, mint, tobacco and dried flowers all lift from the glass. A wine of total finesse, the 2016 is just stunning in its beauty and arresting sensuality. Time in the glass brings out the wine's silkiness and captivating inner perfume. This is such a fabulous expression of Cannubi. What a wine!
Subtle aromas of flowers and strawberries with hints of cranberries. It really rises from the glass and fills the room. Full-bodied, yet so refined and beautiful with ultra refined tannins and ever so polished tannins that make the wine stealthy and focused. Great length. A fantastic encore to the 99-point 2015. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2023 and onwards.
Bright cherry and berry flavors hold the center in this stylish red, accented by underbrush, iron and spice. Firm and focused, leaving fruit, spice and mineral elements on the lingering finish. Best from 2023 through 2045. 800 cases made, 250 cases imported.
Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.
My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover's face.
A beam of rose, rasberry and kirsch notes highlights this aromatic, elegant red. Racy and structured, this focuses the fruit flavors, picking up leafy underbrush, mint, spice and tar elements, building to a firm finish. Best from 2022 through 2040. 333 cases made.
The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is silky, perfumed and gracious, all qualities that are remarkable in this vintage. Even so, the Cannubi remains a soloist more than an orchestra. Floral and spice notes add lift to this super-expressive, nuanced Barolo from Chiara Boschis. Overall, though, the 2015 is a touch slender and not quite as expressive as the two other Barolos in the range. The 2015 was aged 2/3rds in cask and 1/3rd in barrique.
Cherry, eucalyptus, spice and tar flavors mingle with lively tannins here, showing a nice balance between the core of sweet fruit and the firm structure. Overall, this red is elegant and long. Best from 2021 through 2035. 315 cases made, 100 cases imported. — BS
The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, medl into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis' 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!
The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is a fine and sculpted wine that has benefitted from the cool vintage conditions and the long growing season. The wine shows a very pretty nose with wild berry aromas followed by pressed rose, ash, wild mint, tea and earthy black truffle. It shows fine tannins that are slightly camouflaged by the generosity of the fruit. The Cannubi cru offers extreme elegance and finesse. Despite those svelte contours, this wine is built to last.
The 2012 Barolo Cannubi is super-finissed, open-knit and gracious, with striking aromatic lift and plenty of precision. Bright red stone fruit, chalk and white papper give the 2012 its distinctive aromatic signatures. Soft tannins and exceptional balance add to this wine's considerable appeal. The 2012 is a bit more buttoned up than it was last year, but every bit as beautiful. This is a gorgeous Barolo from Chiara Boschis.
The 2012 Barolo Cannubi shows dark fruit nuances, sweet flavors and slightly astringent tannins. The vintage holds back in terms of overall complexity compared to past editions that showed more depth, even at this young stage in their evolution. This is a common trait across the Cannubi cru in 2012. What the wine does offer, however, is a plump and upfront sense of dark fruit with pretty notes of rose petal and grilled herb.
The 2011 Barolo Cannubi is striking. Rose petals, hard candy, and sweet spices all meld together in a silky, super-expressive Barolo endowed with superb depth and persistence. A dolllop of sweetness form the new French oak is evident, but overall, the 2011 is a fairly classic-feeling Barolo. The seamless, plant finish gives the 2011 tons of near-term appeal, but there is also more than enough depth to allos the 2011 to develop beautifully in bottle for years to come.
(14.7% alcohol with 6.0 grams of acidity; bottled the week before my visit): Good full, dark red. Lovely floral perfume to the tangy red cherry aroma; I might have picked this as Burgundy from the nose. Juicy, intense and sharply delineated, with compelling inner-mouth pefume to the flavors of red cherry, raspberry and rose peatl. Finishes juicy and tight but seamless, with silky tannins and lovely lift. Very 2010 in its razor-sharp precision and penetrating length. Little obvious sign of oak here, which is all to the good.
Rose petal and berry aromas follow through to a medium to full body with integrated tannins and a fresh and clean finish. A refined and sexy Cannubi. Try in 2014.
Cherry, raspberry and tobacco flavors highlight this intense red, which is fresh and steely in structure, turning more elegant as it plays out on the finish. A licorice note wraps it up. Really builds form beginning to end. Best from 2016 through 2032. 327 cases made.
Cannubi is regarded as perhaps the finest vineyard cru in Barolo, delivering clean and elegant wines with power and determination on the finish. This expression stays true to the vineyard, with added touches of soft fruit and spice to the mix.
A new-oak sheen sorrounds this supple, delicate red, whose cherry and raspberry flavors take on a leafy tobacco edge. Ripe, yet ethereal in this category, playing out well on the fresh, crisp finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. 168 cases imported.
Bright and tonic, with vibrant fruit tones of cassis and dried raspberry followed by exotic spice and smoked bacon, this is an elegant and complex Barolo. After a while in the glass, you'll notice those fine mineral tones that characterize the Cannubi cru and that give this wine both backbone and personality.
Here is a beautifully extracted and voluptuos Barolo from the Cannubi cru that would pair with tender veal shank, slow cooked until falling off the bone. Black chery, spice, root beer and fragant earthy tones all appear on the nose and the wine closes with tight, firm structure. Cellar age ten years or more.
Vintner Chiara Boschis took over this historic estate after the dead of its founder Luigi Pira. She continue in a precise Barolo tradition that pays attention to quality of fruit and vineyard designations. The Cannubi cru, for example, is celebrated for the legant nature of its wine. Here you will encounter fine aromas of orange blossom, wild berries, white mineral and delicate floral notes.
Beguiling, concentrated and suave, this classically styled Barolo opens with lavender, cherry, almond and anise, which sliden in to blackberry brandy flavors on the palate. Long finish. Intense and delicious from start to finish; a real stunner. Drink now or cellar 5-7 years.
Beautifully silky and refined, with fantastic cherry, mineral and raspberry character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, amazing finish. Keeps going. Superfresh. Chiara Boschis took over the Pira winery in 1990 and this is her best wine to date. Best after 2010. 940 cases made, 350 cases imported.
Grapes for this Barolo come from the Garretti and Campè vineyards, in the Barolo township of Grinzane Cavour. Typical varietal characteristics of sweet and savory herbs, tobacco, mint, liquorice, berries, roses and spice are laced together in this full-bodied, dense and chewy wine. Beautiful fruit and length paired with polished tannins make for a supple, silky wine that will only continue to improve with age.
The 2021 Barolo Garretti displays a medium red color, and the nose opens to a spicy and warming aromas of cedar, ripe cherries, dried herbs, and leather. The palate offers a compact, refreshing, angular structure, bright acidity, and a mineral-inflected finish. It’s tightly coiled and is going to benefit from another few years in the bottle if stored in cool cellars. Drink 2027-2040.
The 2021 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is soft, open-knit and ready to go. Crushed flowers, red cherry fruit, spice, cedar and tobacco give this supple Barolo plenty of near- and medium-term appeal. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. This fruity, easygoing Barolo is all charm. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2031
This has lovely ripe fruit, with rich plum and peach fruit on the nose, plus hazelnut, orange and bread crust too. It’s full-bodied, creamy and textured with melt-in-your-mouth tannins. Delicious finish.
Accessible and subdued, the La Spinetta 2020 Barolo Garretti sources its fruit from the village of Grinzane Cavour. It reveals a medium-rich texture with moderate definition and a mild bouquet layered with black fruits, spice and earth. There's a pretty note of dark maraschino cherry on the finish that hints at the warm growing conditions of the 2020 vintage.
The 2020 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a plump, juicy Barolo that will delight La Spinetta fans. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, herbs, flowers, vanillin and sweet oak makes a strong first impression. Soft contours add immediacy and charm. The 2020 is very nicely done.
The La Spinetta 2019 Barolo Garretti opens to a crisp, almost tart quality with red fruit, cassis, pomegranate and a hint of red apple. Those bright primary tones cede to spice and earthy mineral or baked clay. The wine is distinguished by a pretty hint of licorice root that cuts a line throughout the entire bouquet. The 2019 vintage shows extra finesse and structure to the palate.
Aromas of rose petal and hibiscus flower with some blood orange and stem undertones. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and chewy tannins. Medium finish. Needs time to soften and open.
The 2019 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a wild, exotic wine. The aromatics alone are incredibly alluring. Kirsch, rosewater, hard candy and sweet spice all soar out of the glass. This racy, mid-weight Barolo is a real charmer. Best of all the 2019 will drink well right out of the gate.
This is a solid 2018 with medium to full body, chewy tannins and a fruity, smoky, and nutty finish. Needs time to soften. Try after 2025.
The La Spinetta 2018 Barolo Garretti is underlined by a dark and savory quality that appears throughout this experience. Blackberry and dried cherry give the wine solid grounding and a long-lasting taste profile. Those dark fruit tones are amply surrounded by spice, toasted hazelnut and black truffle.
The 2018 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a racy, exuberant wine ideal for drinking over the next handful of years. Juicy dark red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, white chocolate, rose petal, spice, tobacco, licorice and a kiss of new oak are front and center. This is a strong showing from La Spinetta in a vintage that was quite challenging.
With a lion on its front label to represent Barolo, the "King of Wines," the La Spinetta 2017 Barolo Garretti is a wine of depth, dark fruit and concentration. This vintage delivers power and lots of momentum that you feel in the weight of the fruit, the aromatic intensity and the structure. The wine's alcohol measures 14.5%, and that, too, contributes to the overall brawn and muscle. This production appears very youthful and still nervous, so put it aside in your cellar for best results.
Lots of dried roses with stems to the strawberry and cherry character. It’s full-bodied and chewy with lots of fruit and wood tannins that pucker your mouth now. But it should come around nicely with bottle age.
The 2017 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is gracious and nicely lifted right out of the gate. Sweet floral notes and red berry fruit give the 2017 tons of immediacy. This mid-weight, perfumed Barolo from La Spinetta will drink well right out of the gate. I would prefer to drink it over the next decade or so.
From the Garretti cru in Grinzane Cavour, in the comune where La Spinetta has its ultra modern winery. The 2016 Barolo Vigneto Garretti offers a generous and accessible personality that makes this wine optimal for near or medium-term drinking. The bouquet is layered and rich with dark fruit, licorice, tar and toasted aniseed. The tannins are nicely managed in this vintage, showing both power and elegance.
A full-bodied red with classic aromas of sour cherries, dried leaves, dried orange peel and tar. Juicy and mouthwatering on the palate with plenty of refreshing citrus zest, framed by firm, tight tannins. Big wine. Drink after 2023.
A strapping Barolo, exhibiting black cherry, black currant, tar and iron flavors backed by beefy tannins. It settles in on the long finish, the ripe fruit mitigating the tannins in the end. Best from 2023 through 2038.
The 2016 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is bold, racy and super-expressive. Succulent dark cherry, lavender, spice, menthol, red flowers, licorice, and French oak all meld together in this creamy, racy wine form La Spinetta. The Garretti captures all of the richness and pedigree of the year in a forward, succulent style that is sure to find many admires. This is an especially strong vintage for this wine, though it needs another year in bottle for the big tannins to soften. I won't be surprised if the 2016 truns out to be even better than this note sugguests; today it is absolutely delicious.
The tar and roses are certainly here on the nose with ripe fruit, too. Full-bodied, dense and chewy with beautiful fruit and length. Chewy, polished and compact. Needs two or three years to soften. Drink in 2022.
Complex and warm aromas of cherries, dried strawberries, lemon rind and light licorice. Cut-grass undertones, too. Medium to full body, ripe and round tannins and a beautiful, clean finish. Deep. Fantastic. Drink now or hold.
Located in Grinzane Cavour, Garretti is the lower part of what become the Campe vineyard at the upper elevations. The 2014 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a direct and simple expression of Barolo with a food-friendly and approachable personality. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and this wine sells out very quickly. The bouquet is tight and a little shy at the moment with subtle berry tones followed by spice, tar and licorice. Give it a year or two to unwind.
Located in Grinzane Cavour, Garretti is the lower part of what became the Campè vineyard at the upper elevations. The 2014 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a direct and simple expression of Barolo with a food-friendly and approachable personality. Only 6,000 bottles were made, and this wine sells out very quickly. The bouquet is tight and a little shy at the moment with subtle berry tones followed by spice, tar and licorice. Give it a year or two to unwind.
Lots of sweet tobacco leaves, rose petals and dried- strawberry character. Full body, velvety tannins and a fruity, smoky and light earth finish. Dense and unique. Drink in 2020.
The 2013 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is soft, succulent and open-knit, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum, cinnamon, leather, mint and French oak overtones give the wine its opulent, flamboyant personality. The 2013 spent 18 months in mostly neutral oak.
The 2012 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is a dark and brooding wine that has a long way to travel on its evolutionary track. Only at the beginning of its ageing trajectory, this Barolo reveals stern and uncompromasing notes of dark fruit, tart, licorice and smoke. The mouthfeel is firmly constructed, tight and crisp. The bouquet is layered and powerful. Give this wine five more years, at a bare minimum, of cellar aging.
This is in the savory, balsamic camp, with loads of wild herb, eucalyptus and menthol aromas and flavors trumping the cherry and berry fruit. There is sweet fruit at the core. Firm tannins lend grip to the long finish. Best from 2020 through 2032. 666 cases made.
Smells like bouquet garni with lot of spices and flowers. Dark fruits too. Full body, cherry tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink in 2019.
Exuberant to the core, the 2012 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is one of the more immediate wines of the year. A rush of red berries, wild flowers, mint and sweet French oak hits the palate. There is lot to like in this racy Barolo. The new oak is a bit prominent, but the wine's depth and overall presence are both intriguing. While showy today, the 2012 will be even better in another year or two, once the tannins soften a bit further.
A dense and chewy red with blueberry, cherry, plum and mohogany character. Savory and earthy too. Similar character on the palate. Spicy and decadent. Better in 2018.
Like La Spinetta's other wines from this vintage, the 2011 Barolo Vigneto Garretti opens to pretty balsam or medicinal herb aromas with eucapyptus oil, mint, dried ginger and cherry cola. These aromas give the wine a bright and buoyant sense of weightlessness . After a few minutes, heavier aromas of spice, toasted nut and tobacco begin to appear. The mouthfeel is firm and silky. Drinking Window 2018 - 2035
Savory and aromatic, this red evokes wild rosemary, juniper, sage, plum, cherry and underbrush flavors. Turns muscular on the long finish. Decant now or cellar short-term. Best from 2018 through 2029. 700 cases made.
La Spinetta's 2011 Barolo Garretti is soft, sensual and inviting. Sweet red berries, raspberries, flowers, mint and spices are well all laced together in a supple, silky Barolo with tons of near-term appeal. The Garretti has more than enough depth - and - the barrels are neutral - for the purity to come through loud and clear. The Garretti emerges form the lower slopes of La Spinetta's estate vineyard in Grinzane Cavour.
This is xtremely floral on the nose with orchid and strawberry. Hints of sandalwood. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Loads of orange peel understones here. Sexy young Barolo. Better in 2016.
The 2010 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is an amazing wine with an impresive level of depth and intensity. The wine is redolent o dark fruit and dried cherry, but its most interesting aromas come forth as exotic spice and dark licorice. This Barolo stands out thanks to its profound sense of elegance and determination. The bouquet is stitched together with harmony and grace. The mouthfeel is similarly polished, but it also delivers evident strength with fine tannins and excellent length. I had the oportunity to spend some time with Giorgio Rivetti this year at the Campe winery just outside the Grinzane Cavour castle. This gave me the opportunity to taste his fabolous 2005 Riservas form magnum (taht will be released later this year in September) and a chance to catch up on some back vintages. La Spinetta is synonymous with one of the most distinctive winemaking styles in the Langhe. The wines are easily identifiable in a blind tasting because, acroos the board, they offer a uniquely intense aromatic delivery. The bouquetes on the 2013 wines are deeply fragant and fruity; the 2012 vintage is more integrated with spice and tobacco. The 2011 vintage is marked by profound balsam notes of cola, mint and medicinal herbs. These are extremely personalized wines.
A little smoky reduction gives way to ripe raspberry, leather and spice flavors. Supple, yet firmly structured, with refined tannins on the finish. Should be enjoyable on the early side. Best from 2016 through 2028. 800 cases made.
Savory herbs, tobacco, mint, sweet herbs and licorice meld together in La Spinetta's 2010 Barolo Vigneto Garretti. An intensely floral, perfumed Barolo, the Garretti shows the more feminine, gracious side of the vintage. The Garretti is made from the lower parts of the estate's Barolo vineyards. In 2010, the wine saw 12 days on the skins and was aged mostly in used oak.
The 2009 Barolo Vigneto Garretti comes from the lowest part of the vineyard. It shows great power and density with fleshy fruit, dried cherry and prune. The mouthfeel is round and dense, supported amply by the firm tannins at the back. Anticipated maturity:2015-2030. Giorgio Rivetti has unveil a stunning line of new wines, and a few surprises as well, form his impecable winery and tasting room at the foot of the Grinzane Cavour castle. The line of Riserva Barbarescos and Riserva Barolo will only be bottled in magnums in the best vintages. The year 2004 is the inaugural vintage of these specia releases. Gioergio purchased a beautiful estate in the Grinzane Cavour estate for making Barolo. His vineyard graces a dome-shaped hill and is planted with 55- to 60- year-old Nebbiolo vines.
La Spinetta's 2009 Barolo Vigneto Garretti bursts from the glass with juicy dark cherries, plums, cinnamon and white truffles, all supported by firm tannins that need a few years to melt away. Smoke, tart and incense add depth and gravitas. Tasted next to the 2009 Bordini, weight and richness of Barolo is clearly evident in the glass.
Fruity and delicious with flowers and berries and hits of tannins. Fresh and clean. Old vines next to Campe. Better in 2014.
Flavors of macerated cherry and medicinal herbs, with a hint of orange peel, mark this dense, sinewy red, wich is light, elegant and lively, with a firm backbone of tannins. Be patient. Best from 2014 through 2027. 650 cases made.
La Spinetta's 2006 Barolo Garretti is a floral, inviting Barolo graced with crushed flowers, berries, spices, mint and licorice. This is a decidedly mid-weight, feminine style for La Spinetta. Floral tones reappear on the finish adding lift and freshness. Though medium in body today, there certainly seems to be the potencial for this put on some weight over the next few years. The firm tannins need a few years in bottle to soften. The Garretti is a new bottling from La Spinetta made from the lower slopes of the estate's vineyards in Grinzane Cavour. Previously this fruit had been included in the top of the line Barolo Campe. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
The most recently acquired parcel, the famous Mosconi Cru in Monforte d’Alba was purchased in 2009. The vineyard’s particular heavy clay soil (in some areas calcium carbonate and iron give the soil a reddish-gray color) lends considerable structure to this wine, making it a Barolo ideal for aging. A garnet red color is complimented by open perfumes of flowers and mature fruit with some spicy notes. This is a long-lasting wine of power and concentration with firm, velvety tannins.
This Barolo opens up with aromas of bright cherries, cedar and a touch of sliced mushrooms. Medium-bodied with incisive freshness. The tannins are restrained, almost timid. The wine is overall compact and solid. Very well constructed and cohesive. Needs three years to soften, but it’s really enjoyable to taste.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Mosconi is structured, linear and ultimately quite mineral in character compared to the Cannubi. Its firm underlying architecture is rendered light and fragrant thanks to aromas of blue flower, grilled herb (with both rosemary and aniseed) and pulverized stone. Fruit comes from a site in Monforte d'Alba at a cool 370 meters in elevation. I came back to this bottle 24 hours after my first tasting and remarked on the elegant, chalky nature of the tannins.
Selected from the estate’s oldest plot within Mosconi, this is the only one of Chiara Boschis’ Barolos still aged exclusively in barriques. The cool, fresh site sees significant diurnal temperature differences typically giving a powerful wine that needs tempering and, above all, time. The 2021 harnesses that vigor and potential masterfully. A marvelous mix of sweet spice, forest roots and stony minerals evoke a palpable sense of territory. Profound in its depths, it boasts juicy acidity with plush tannins you can sink your teeth into. Long, textural and enveloping with dark cherry, plum and hints of bitter cocoa, this is a complete and compelling package.
With a slightly deeper jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barolo Mosconi is more contemplative, offering layered notes of cedar, cherry cordial, Asian spices, sweet herbs, and pressed flowers. It reveals broader polished depth on the palate, with ripe, refined tannins, and a long, even-keeled finish with persistent mineral underpinnings. It is only going to improve as it leans into these more brooding tertiary layers of truffle and leather, and it will be worth waiting for. Drink 2026-2056.
The 2021 Barolo Mosconi is ample, creamy and resonant in the glass in its first impression. Dark red/blue fruits, leather, lavender, spice and menthol build with some coaxing. There's plenty of Mosconi substance, but Chiara Boschis has done a terrific job in taming the tannins here. This is one of the most refined wines I have ever tasted from the Mosconi cru. Time in the glass brings out the wine's structural presence, while floral overtones and insistent tannins support the driving finish.
Top 100 wines of Italy 2024 #62 - Dried oyster savoriness and intriguing wet stones with a touch of nice peppercorn funk to the cherries, hibiscus and plums. Broad and compact on the palate with a full body and plump morello cherries in the middle. Quite expansive and long, but transparent. Even more powerful than her exciting Cannubi from this vintage. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2027.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Mosconi has some of the extra ripeness of the vintage with cherry cream syrup, grenadine, watermelon candy and a drop of Pastis. The wine ends on a powerful note with a balanced combination of fruit and fine oak tannins. The palate is very alive, and the fruit feels very vibrant at this young stage.
The 2020 Barolo Mosconi is a powerful, savory wine. Black cherry, gravel, incense, menthol and licorice all build in this virile, strapping Monforte Barolo. Ample and authoritative, the 2020 has a ton to offer. Savory herbs, earthiness and strong mineral notes infuse the substantial finish. Superb.
Though clearly focused on its cherry, raspberry and plum fruit flavors, this red also boasts savory elements of eucalyptus and woodsy underbrush. Well-endowed, with dense, dusty tannins that shape the compact finish. Best from 2028 through 2046.
The 2019 Barolo Mosconi is a bit deeper in color, with its jeweled appearance leading to floral, fresh, and spicy notes of ripe cherry, pink peppercorn, and fresh rosemary. It is medium to full-bodied, with great purity, and has ripe, sweet tannins that fill the palate alongside balanced fruit, hints of forest floor, and a bit of cedar. It is long on the palate and needs more time. Drink 2025-2045.
The 2019 Barolo Mosconi is the most potent of the three Barolos in the range. It exudes Monforte darkness and virile intensity from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, mocha, sage, tar, lavender and spice infuse the 2019 with tons of character. This is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from Mosconi, a site that does not naturally lend itself to finesse.
With fruit from Monforte d'Alba, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2019 Barolo Mosconi is the most powerful of the three wines presented here. We tasted it last. Bottled on the full August moon, the wine is impeccably balanced and bright with dark fruit, black cherry, spice and pencil shaving. The tannic structure of the wine is impressive, and you can count on Mosconi for long aging potential.
Bright, intense ruby with a delicately brightening edge. The nose smells of ripe wild berries, cedar and licorice, vaguely reminiscent of milk chocolate, candle wax, with an aftertaste of incense, cranberries and rosemary. Hearty entry on the palate, with grippy, tightly woven tannins and pinpoint acidity, as if from a single source, there is always a great length, very harmonious.
Lots of spices and earth with dark berries on the nose. Full-bodied with fine and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish wth blackberries and cinnamon. Racy and silky testure at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2026 but already a joy to taste.
Chiara Boschis has recently purchased more vineyard in the Mosconi cru located at a cool 370 meters in elevation in Monforte d'Alba. From an organic 1.9-hectare parcel, the 2018 Barolo Mosconi is available in a slightly larger production of 9,000 bottles. This is terrific news for those who love the focus and precision that Chiara Boschis is known for. The Mosconi carries generous fruit weight and volume over a streamlined mouthfeel and tight tannins. The wine ends with fresh notes of blackberry, plum and wild rose.
Sparkling, dark garnet with a light edge. Very fragrant nose of wild raspberries, dark cherries, plums, cloves and a little cinnamon. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, opens with lots of hearty, grippy tannins, nice melting core, hints of raspberry and tobacco, long finish.
This red puts it all together—macerated cherry and plum fruit, a silky texture, vibrant structure and elegance—without sacrificing power or harmony. Complex and long, with a haunting finish that provides rose, menthol, licorice and iron accents. Best from 2025 through 2043. 800 cases made, 175 cases imported.
Plenty of tense, wild-strawberry character to this with bright minerals, too. Medium-bodied with a punchy core of bright fruit, tight tannins and a tense, crystalline finish. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to even out. Best from 2024.
The 2018 Barolo Mosconi shows all the gravitas and natural darkness of this site, but in miniature. Black cherry, plum, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks and incense fill out the layers. There is plenty of Mosconi muscle, even if the volume of the best years isn't there.
Very fresh, sweet raspberries with some floral undertones follow through to a full body with fine, creamy tannins that flow long and linear through the middle of the palate. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2024.
The 2017 Barolo Mosconi is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, gravel, dried herbs, scorched earth, spice and leather add to an impression of gravitas. This is an especially somber, potent Barolo that needs time to soften. Even so, it will always be a brute. The substantial finish is a thing of beauty. The Barolo Mosconi emerges from the estates oldest vines, which are 70-80 years old, and is aged in barrique.
Made with organically grown clones of Michel and Lampia, the E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2017 Barolo Mosconi softly presents bright berry aromas, raspberry, wild cherry, crushed limestone and delicate floral tones of lilacs and violets. Like other wines from this hot vintage, this expression from the Mosconi cru in Monforte d'Alba has that unique floral signature that is precious and unexpected. The wine shows great depth and balance with a pretty intensity that spreads over the palate. The tannins are dry with some dustiness, but the mouthfeel is spot-on in terms of length and polish.
The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a little wider and richer compared to the Cannubi, with bigger fruit, more sweetness, spice, grilled oregano and a touch of crushed hazelnut. Despite the wide net of aromas offered on the bouquet, this wine shows a very sharp and focused approach with elegantly linear tannins and matching acidity. There is a lifted quality to both the nose and the mouthfeel that gives this wine beautiful momentum and length. Mosconi is one of the headline vineyards of Monforte d'Alba. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
The 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a gorgeous wine made all the more remarkable given that Mosconi can't really be said to be a top-level site. Dark and imposing, the 2016 captures all the breadth and tannic clout that are such signatures of this site. This is an especially brooding, virile Barolo, but Chiara and Giorgio Boschis clearly brought out all the best the vineyard had to give.
A full-bodied, chewy 2016 with a solid structure of ripe fruit and intense tannins. Lots of plums, walnuts, hazelnuts and light chocolate. It’s very powerful. Very classic structure. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to resolve the powerful tannins. Try after 2022.
The vivacious Chiara Boschis has been a modernist producer for 25 years, although she now uses far less new oak than in the past. She is best known for her Cannubi, but the Mosconi, from 1ha within this Monforte vineyard, can be just as fine in some vintages. The colour is deep for Barolo, the cherry and blackberry nose generous and opulent. It's a plump, rich, full-bodied and very concentrated wine that's assertive and youthful now - but in balance. Darker-fruited than most Barolos, it's structured, taut and long. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038
Aromatic depth here, drawing you in with cascading layers of flowers and leaves, fresh-tilled earth laced with woody spices, white pepper and fresh red fruit. The palate carries a very sturdy frame of fine, dense tannins. This is placed in the top league of 2015 Barolo wines. Long and succulent build through the finish. Try from 2024.
All of the wines from Chiara Boschis are more vinous this year, more natural. They feel authentic, genuine and traditional. They show an extra degree of richness or texture, and the 2015 Barolo Mosconi is no exception. Its dark and spicy notes are very polished and graceful in this vintage but with considerable tightness to the tannins that will soften with time. This wine offers ample volume and girth, but it carries its weight with elegance. Once the bottle has reached maturity, it would be a great pairing match to rabbit.
The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and volume. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and menthol grow in the glass in a full-bodied, virile Barolo that speaks to power above all else.
The personable Chiara Boschis is based in the town of Barolo, but this wine comes from 1ha in Monforte. It's a fairly new addition to her range, and a very successful one albeit in a far from traditional style. The colour is deep and the nose voluptuous and smoky, with cherry-pie aromas. The palate is full-bodied, plump and suave, infused with dark fruits. Fortunately there is balancing acidity to cut through the richness. Harmonious, with a long, piquant finish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038
Plenty of dried berries and herbs. Some meat, woody spices and a wealth of fresh red and pink roses, making this very fragrant. The palate has assertive acid cut and impressive depth. The elegant yet firm tannins hold the red-plum finish long. A great result with real tension. Try from 2023.
A wine of power and breadth, the 2014 Barolo Mosconi has all of the textural depth that is typical of this Monforte site. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and incense are some of the many notes that fill out the wine's generous frame. It will be intersting to see if the 2014 comes together a bit more fully with time in bottle. Today, it is decidedly virile and a touch monolithic.
A mix of cherry, eucalyptus, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors are gripped by dense, dusty tannins. On the darker side, with a kernel of sweet fruit on the finish. Fine intensity. Best from 2023 through 2038. 330 cases made, 110 cases imported.
The 2014 Barolo Mosconi is the most robust and structured of the three Barolos. Chiara Boschis believes in making her single-vineyard wines even in a difficult vintage such as this. She rejects the idea of blending all her fruit together to make a single wine. Indeed, her cru wines are very distint. Each shows its individual characteristics with greater precision, I would argue, in this slender and more ethereal vintage. The 2014 vintage is a natural spring board for highlighting vineyard personality. This is a cool vintage, but Mosconi surprises the sense for the plump ripeness of its dark fruit flavors.
The 2013 Barolo Mosconi shows thicker textural fiber and greated overall power. The Mosconi site is characterized by heavy clay soils that act like sponge and keep the moisture locked deep within even during the warmest months. The wine opens to coffee and dark fruit with more cherr, spice, tobacco and black truffle at the back. The mouthfeel is generous and wide in appeal, showing tannic frimness that coats the palate. The wine's layering is rich and lasting in intensity. This wine shows excellent possibility for further cellar evolution.
Dark, ample and inviting, the 2013 Barolo Mosconi shows the pure power and breadth that is so typical of this site. Black cherry, plum, mocha, smoke, tobacco and licorice are all fused together. The Mosconi presents an especialy virile, baritone expression of nebbiolo, with less finesse than is found in the estate's other Barolo. That said, there is quite a bit of polish to play off the natural richness of Mosconi. The 2013 is an especially refined, layered wine for this site.
The 2012 Barolo Mosconi comes across as a bit powerful and monolithic. There is no shortage of intensity, but the wine is one dimensional, which is typical of most wines from this site. Muscular, dense tannins and intense dark fruit are among the signatures. It will be interesting to see if the 2012 develops finesse.
A dark, brooding wine, the 2011 Barolo Mosconi captures the sense of this Monforte site in its intense flavors and broad, ample frame. Black cherries, savory herbs, mint, tobacco, smoke and incense all flesh out in the glass as this opulent, virile Barolo shows off its personality. While the Cannubi is purely silk and sensuality, the Mosconi is all muscle. It will therefore hold more appeal to readers who like massive, powerful Barolos.
The 2011 Barolo Mosconi shows thick lines and dark density with well-defined notes of dried cherry, balsam herb, licorice and dark chocolate. Its consistency is plush and soft, although that characteristic tannic backbone does much to keep the wine tightly stitched together. Barolo Mosconi delivers warm vintage traits on the nose and the textural firmness of a cooler year. The results are unique and compelling. This Barolo ages in oak for two years.
Via Nuova (New Road) was the name of a small vineyard on the edge of the historical center of Barolo, the name coming from its proximity to the road (new at that time!) connecting Barolo to Novello. All that remains today of the road is a small walking path through the vineyards. The wine was produced as a single-vineyard Barolo for many years until, in 2010, this small Cru was incorporated into the larger Terlo subzone. And so, as a sort of homage to tradition, Barolo Via Nuova is now produced as a blend of 6 different vineyards: Terlo and Liste in Barolo, Ravera e Mosconi in Monforte d’Alba and Gabutti and Baudana in Serralunga d’Alba. This classic Barolo blend combines structure with elegance and complexity, emphasizing the particularities of each vineyard site. Though a bit timid when first opened, some time in the glass (or decanter) will reveal Via Nuova’s alluring ethereal floral and fruit perfumes.
A lifted and energetic Barolo, the 2021 Barolo Via Nuovais boasts a jeweled ruby color and has a fantastic, balanced nose with notes of ripe peaches, sweet sandalwood, floral perfume, and wild strawberries. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and focused, with vibrant acidity, finely coiled tannins, and a long and linear finish. It has a bit more open feel at this stage, but it should have solid aging potential and improve over the next 20 or more years.
An intense Barolo with aromas of Parma violets, cinnamon, restrained blood oranges, cherries and licorice. Incredibly precise and defined. Full-bodied on the powerful and graceful palate, with velvety tannins and refreshing, lifted acidity. A lot of substance, with a crunchy style and balance. Long, licorice aftertaste. Best after 2027.
This wine represents a blend of fruit from various sites, and 15,000 bottles were created. Showing a classical profile, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Via Nuova delivers a firm sense of inner fiber and richness with dark blueberry and black fruit. These aromas are enhanced by ethereal tones of blue flower and aniseed. The tannins are slightly more approachable in this wine compared to the Mosconi, but the intensity and richness of the mouthfeel is about the same.
The 2021 Barolo Via Nuova is a gorgeous, poised wine . Bright and energetic, with tons of drive, the 2021 has so much to offer. Brisk acids and veins of tannin shape this dynamic mid-weight Barolo. Blood orange, plum, chalk and rose petal are some of the many notes that come alive with aeration. The Via Nuova is a gorgeous wine in the making, but it needs a few years to be at its most expressive.
Bright and complex nose showing excellent depth and complexity. Expect to find fresh strawberries, white pepper, stones, fine herbs, chalk and even a touch of mezcal. Broad and zesty on the palate with fine, chalky tannins driving it to a long and ample finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova is stellar. It clearly benefits from a blend of several sites. Dark cherry, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and dried herbs all build in this potent, structured Barolo. As always, the blend includes Paiagallo, Liste, Terlo, Gabutti, Baudana, Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi—an approach that works so well. This is a stellar showing from Chiara Boschis.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Via Nuova opens to a little more dark fruit and ripe berry in this vintage. The wine is buttoned up from all sides into a tight little package of aromas. You get orange peel, bright cherry and a fragrant springtime fruit blossom. There are hints of herb, tar, violet and chalky mineral. The tannins are finely polished and smooth.
A rich, ripe style, boasting cherry, raspberry, iron, tobacco, herb and spice flavors. This is dense, with aggressive tannins tipping the balance slightly in their favor, yet remains long and full of fruit to the end, with fine length. Best from 2028 through 2043.
The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova takes on a more introspective and serious tone, with more concentration and dark berry notes of black raspberry and cherry as well as dark earth and menthol. It is fresh on the palate, with significantly more concentration from the vintage, with cherry, tea leaf, and turned soil. (I love how each vintage is so transparent as a lens into the different nature of any given year’s climate and conditions.) This is the most muscular of the wines. Hold this one and drink 2026-2046.
An extremely interesting Barolo, velvety and elegant. The aroma has hints of sour cherry, undergrowth and slightly smoked, completed by balsamic touches and black pepper. The taste recalls fruity and smoky notes, with a balsamic-spicy finish.”
More citrus character emerges from the 2019 Barolo Via Nuova, which is lifted, elegant, and fresh with orange peel. On the palate, it has outstanding energy, with finely coiled tannins, more linear drive, and refreshing energy in its notes of pomegranate, raspberry, and crushed stones. I love this wine now, and it will be fantastic over the coming decades.
The 2019 Barolo Via Nuova is another gorgeous wine in this tasting. Soaring and broad in its aromatic intensity, the 2019 has it all. The blend of seven sites works so well. Readers will find a seamless, wonderfully complete Barolo. Dried flowers, herbs, mint, rose petal, kirsch and orange zest lend notable complexity throughout. The 2019 is deep and also quite rich, but not at all heavy. There is a touch of oak sweetness, but it just adds to the wine's exotic beauty.
The 2019 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of fruit from various sites across multiple villages in the appellation. The wine is immediately open and beautiful, showing dark fruit, cherry, spice, blue flower and potting soils. The healthy fruit in this vintage shows an almost crunchy quality. With climate changes and weather patterns that are becoming increasingly tropical in nature, hail storms are a reoccurring threat. In recent times, they have been especially violent in the village of La Morra. Chiara Boschis installed hail nets in her vineyards seven years ago.
Bright, dark ruby garnet. The nose has fine peppermint, rich heart cherries, a clear hint of licorice, and the finish has fine earthy tones. Creamy and supple on the palate, then develops on iron-rich, fleshy tannins, very powerful, energetic, still a bit bulky in the aftertaste, still wants to age.
Shiny, brightening garnet red, light rim. The nose is extremely fragrant, with fresh roses, lots of raspberries and strawberries, and some cotton candy. Polished, fine-meshed tannin, red berry fruit, tobacco in the finish.
Fascinating aromatic complexity that keeps your nose hovering over the glass. Raspberries with ginger biscuits, flowers and a twist of basil. There’s a deeper layer of crushed goji berries and talc-like minerals, too. Full, intense, silky and dainty with well-integrated tannins that even add a chocolatey touch. From organically grown grapes. So tempting to drink now, but better from 2024.
This is an organic blend of fruit from six MGA sites: Terlo and Liste (in Barolo), Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi (in Monforte d’Alba) and Gabutti and Baudana (in Serralunga d’Alba). The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is fermented in steel and aged in oak according to time-tested local tradition. This mid-weight blended Barolo has a more prominent herbal or balsam signature at the back of red and purple fruits, licorice and pressed violet.
The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is marked by palpable brightness and tension that lend energy. Like all of these wines, the 2018 is restrained in feel, but all the elements are so well balanced. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed rocks, chalk and white pepper give the Via Nuova notable energy. Intense veins of supporting tannin and minerality provide the backbone.
A fragrant and elegant red, delivering tuberose, strawberry, cherry and grassy aromas and flavors. Taut and balanced, with bright floral and red fruit notes gracing the lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. 375 cases made, 150 cases imported.
Gorgeous aromas of dried flowers and strawberries with some cherries and hints of iron. Full-bodied. Chewy and creamy-textured at the same time. Attractive berry and walnut aftertaste. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2025.
The 2017 Barolo Via Nuova is stellar. In 2017, the Via Nuova is a bit nervous, the sign of a Barolo that is going to need a number of years to unwind. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper add pretty aromatic top notes. As always, the Via Nuova is the most taut Barolo in the range. Via Nuova is a blend of seven vineyard sites; Terlo, Paiagallo and Liste (in Barolo); Ravera and Mosconi (in Monforte); and Gabutti and Baudana (in Serralunga).
This classic wine represents a traditional blend of sites including Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana). The organic E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2017 Barolo Via Nuova reveals ripe cherry and raspberry that greet you with a bright, fruit-forward bouquet. I feel the hot-vintage fruit ripeness more in this release than I did in the smaller releases of Mosconi or Cannubi. The wine is slender and elegant in terms of mouthfeel, with a good, polished feel and some subtle bite from the tannins on the close. There are some grassy notes and a spicy point of crushed black pepper as well.
Radiant, sparkling ruby red. On the nose there is a clear barrel note, light spicy tones, ripe strawberries, raspberries, and a hint of dried flowers in the aftertaste. Clear and radiant on the palate, opens with robust, grippy tannins, slightly consuming in the aftertaste.
In my opinion, the 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is the single greatest Barolo Chiara Boschis has made in her storied career. A monumental, thrilling wine, the Via Nuova captures all the best the vintage had to give. Explosive in the glass, with stunning aromatic depth, the 2016 is drop-dead gorgeous from the very first taste. Dark macerated cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and rose petal are kicked up a few notches from underlying veins of acidity and tannin that give the wine its energy and drive. The 2016 is a wine of extraordinary harmony, purity and finesse with an eternal finish. The 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of seven plots: Terlo, Liste, Paiagallo, Ravera di Monforte, Mosconi, Gabutti and Baudana.
A blend of fruit from seven crus spread across Barolo, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba, the E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is a polished and elegant wine that reflects all the classic characteristics of textbook Barolo. There are brambly aromas of woody red fruit, like pomegranate, followed by toasted hazelnut, licorice and grassy earth. The delineated tannins and the freshness of the acidity add to the depth and important layering of the wine. Following the best of Nebbiolo, the wine is weightless and powerful at the same time. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
Extremely perfumed and beautiful with crushed-strawberry, hazelnut and sandalwood aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy with polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Pretty craftsmanship and structure. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2022 and onwards.
This delivers a fresh and vibrant impression on the nose with ripe red cherries and a deep-set, rose perfume. The palate has impressive power and focus with chiseled, driving tannins that cut a straight line of pure, red and black-cherry flavor. Long and assertive in 2015. Try this from 2023.
Once again, the 2015 Barolo Via Nuova shows why the blending of several sites was the approach favored by Barolo producers until the 1960s, when the fascination for single-vineyard wines started to take off. Maybe the old-times knew something after all. Silky and fragrant, with exceptional balance, the 2015 is positively striking. Medium in body and layered, the 2015 has a very bright future. What a gorgeous wine it is. The Via Nuova was aged in equal parts cask and barrique.
The 2015 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of fruit from Barolo, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba, and each site adds elegance, power and structure, respectively. The wine's taste profile in 2015 emerges as very minty and balsamic on first nose. Delicate notes of forest berry and wild cherry are followed by cooling medicinal herb. This warm vintage also adds a touch of cured meat or leather at the very back that hints at the heat of the vintage. Overall, this is the most accessible and near-term of Chiara Boschis's three Barolos reviewed this year.
This is the mid- weight wine that exists on a continuum between the ethereal elegance of Cannubi and the muscular power of Mosconi. The 2014 Barolo Via Nuova represents a traditional assembly fo fruit form various sites, including Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana). This beautiful wine offers volume and grit with beautiful mineral tones that stand proud above the dark fruit, cassis and wild rose. There is a note of mineral saltiness on the close that I really love.
The 2013 Barolo Via Nuova is a more accessible wine with ripe and round fruit flavors that lift gracefully from the glass. The bouquet is immediately open and articulate. Fruit is sourced from six vineyards spread across three townships: Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana) . Each one, averaging only half a hecare in size, adds a little piece of the puzzle. IN the future, the idea is to increase the percentage of Mosconi fruit to bring total bottle production form 4,000 to around 6,000. The wine is ample and generous in terms of its aromatic intensity with bold fruit, spice and balsam herb. The finish is dry and marked by distant mineral flavors.
Aromas of toasted oak, mocha and whiff of coconut oak lead the nose while the firm palate offers dark cherry, espresso, dried sage and a hint of anise. The tightly wound tannins still pack youthful sharpness and need a few more years to soften up. Drink after 2021.
Aromas of toast, sutle oak, rich fruit, dried roses, clove and white pepper lead the nose on this structured but polished wine. The succulent palate doles out ripe wild cherry accent with licorice, black pepper, and red-hot cinnamon. It's balanced with firm, bracing tannins and freshness.
A vivid straw-yellow in color, this Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG is richly perfumed with flowers, delicate mineral nuances and a pleasant hint of Golden Delicious apple. In the mouth, a beautiful, lively energy excites the tastebuds accompanied by notable sapidity and freshness. The wine is dry and harmonious, with medium persistence and fruity notes on the finish. A fine choice for any occasion, from an aperitif through dinner.
The 2023 Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore is airy, with a wave of stone dust, chamomile and freshly sliced yellow apples forming its bouquet. It’s more savory than expected and remarkably fresh, with a tinge of tropical citrus that elevates its ripe orchard fruits. Zesty as it calls the taster back to the glass for more, this tapers off long and clean, leaving a hint of chlorophyll that adds a mouthwatering quality.
Attractive and fleshy wine with a lovely savoury element to the citrus, pear and floral notes. Lovely drive and complete finish.
The original Bitter recipe dates back to 1933, including an infusion of 30 premium natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds (aloe, wormwood, bitter and sweet orange peel, cloves, cardamom, hibiscus, rhubarb, nettle to name just a few). The traditional slow, cold maceration process of extraction is combined with Italian grappa and water to craft a sophisticated, all-natural elixir. This complex, well-balanced “boutique” spirit finds its place in both classic and contemporary cocktails. The Bitter is best enjoyed as a mixer: an essential component in Negroni, Americano, Torino/Milano, Jasmine, Bitter Soda and Bitter Sweet.
If you’re a Campari lover, then the Canelli, Piedmont-based Contratto Bitter should be the next bottle in your cart. Founded in 1867 by Giuseppe Contratto, it is best known as the oldest continuously operating producer of sparkling wine in Italy—but their aromatized wines and aperitivo bitters are also vastly popular among bartenders and aperitivo enthusiasts.
If you like Campari, you’ll love Contratto Bitter. It is rich and sweet enough that it can take on the role of other ingredients, including sweet vermouth. Stir it up with slightly spicy rye whiskey and you've got a pleasantly complex sipper that's super-sophisticated given that it's essentially made from two ingredients
Made from grape brandy and dyed with vegetables, this purplish red bitter is light, fruity, and almost tropical, tasting of hibiscus and strawberries. Try it In herbaceous cocktails like a Negroni Sbagliato.
Known for their vermouths that date back to the 1890's, Contratto also makes two products suited for aperitivo hour. Called Bitter and Aperitif, both recipes are made with an Italian brandy base, both endure a cold maceration process for the botanical infusion, and both use natural coloring from carrot and red beet extracts for the color. Aperitif is the lighter of the two (13.5% ABV) with a prominent fresh orange/tangerine flavor and soft sweetness that lends itself to the spritz format. Botanicals in the Aperitif include mint, safflower, sage, and licorice. The Bitter has a darker magenta color and bold bitterness thanks to botanicals like nettle, wormwood, and cardamom, balanced out by brighter flavors like hibiscus and rhubarb. At 22% ABV, the Bitter is also higher in alcohol and mixes beautifully with gin and sweet vermouth in a Negroni. July 11, 2019
A classic Piedmont sparkler crafted from 100% Chardonnay grown on hillside vineyards located 650 meters (2,133 feet) above sea level. The wine opens up beautifully in the glass to reveal exceptional power, depth and intensity with characteristic varietal notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white peach. Floral notes and slate are enhanced by a crystalline purity and texture, enchanting in the mouth with an enveloping creaminess and fine and persistent bubbles. An ideal accompaniment to seafood.
Intense light gold with orange reflections. Fragrant nose, of bread crust, freshly squeezed oranges, white flowers, with fine hints of candied ginger, delicate berry scent in the aftertaste, after a while of sulfur. Juicy on the palate, clear, with a great fruit core, on fresh pineapple, shows a nice progression, bone dry, clean, pure, again juicy in the finish.
This vibrant sparkling wine has a very attractive personality and lots of spicy beading. The Contratto 2019 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé opens to pear, unripe peach and preserved lemon. It maintains a bright delivery of flavors with plenty of background freshness.
The 2019 Blanc de Blancs Alta Langa Pas Dosé is gorgeous, mixing savory and sweet with a rich blend of almond custard and white flowers, giving way to lifting hints of crushed pear. This is soothingly round with a creamy wave of ripe pit fruits and candied citrus guided by tantalizing acidity. This finishes with admirable length yet freshness, leaving a mineral twang and traces of ground ginger that slowly fade. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2029
This has a deeper color with intensity and richness to the fruit, offering notes of cooked apples and lemons, pine nuts, sourdough and hints of balsamic. Medium- to full-bodied and bone-dry with fine bubbles and electrifying acidity. Concentrated. Extends to a long, yeasty finish. Drink now.
Opening with honeyed aromas, Fuji apples, pressed white flowers, and nuts, this 100% Chardonnay sparkler delights. It reveals candied lemon zest, a round and plush palate with good acidity, and continues with flavors of lemon drop, a hint of passion fruit and peach. A creamy texture, vibrant acidity and elegant perlage finish.
Distinctly savory, the 2018 Blanc de Blancs Alta Langa Pas Dosé wafts up from the glass with a dusty blend of dried wildflowers, field grasses and white peach. This is saline and full of tension, with a silken wave of fine bubbles and tart orchard fruits that saturate. It leaves a salty sensation and hints of nectarine while finishing remarkably fresh, squeaky clean yet still long and staining. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2028
The Contratto 2017 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé is a generous, medium-bodied sparkler with lots of apricot, pear, stone fruit and pastry cream. The wine shows lovely dimension and richness with fine and persistent beading.
This has a straw color with a yeasty, toasty and mineral nose of toasted sourdough, dried jasmine, dried pineapple, apple, lemon and slate. Some licorice, too. It’s medium-bodied with a creamy, caressing mousse and lively acidity. Excellent balance and length. Delicious now.
The Contratto 2016 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé shows a pale pink presentation (it's a rosé, really) with a fragile and delicate bouquet. The wine releases aromas of citrus and orchard fruits, with some lightly toasted almond or breakfast brioche. To the palate, the wine is silky and fine with soft beading.
A soft and yielding sparkling wine that descends into a long array of orchard and stone fruit aromas. You get poached pear and Golden Delicious apple with crushed limestone and mineral at the edges. There is a unique nobility to this wine that comes across thanks to the rocky soils and high-altitude positioning of these Alta Langa vineyards.
Aromas of bread dough and dried cheese with some strawberries. Full-bodied, very dry and delicious. Sliced lemons, too. Drink now.
You feel a touch of sweetness in the 2014 Alta Langa Metodo Classico Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé, but Chardonnay's lovely notes of citrus fruit and white peach are expertly pronounced here. This classic Piedmont sparkler offers nice thickness and a creamy texture, while the bubbles are fine and persistent. Some delicate crab cakes would pair very nicely here.
Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the Sangiovese Grosso grape from estate vineyards in the prestigious Val D’Orcia. This is an intensely perfumed and rich wine with dried flowers, red berry fruits and notes of spice and fresh mushrooms. Full-bodied, yet warm and soft, with a well-balanced palate, fine tannins and incredible length.
A profound wine with vibrancy and complexity, exuding restrained cherries and raspberries, together with touches of ash and fresh orange peel. Leafiness and meaty minerality add an extra dimension. The attack is lush and ripe, with full body, velvety tannins, refreshing acidity and violet-soaked cherries to finish. Real precision here. Drinkable now, but best after 2025.
Dark and deep on the nose it shows notes of incense, sandalwood, cumin, black tea leaves, dates, bergamot, cinchona and black pepper. Many shades of pink pepper, juniper berries, sage, bay leaves, ginseng root, chamomile and broom describe the secondary scene. Full body, fresh and balsamic in the sip, it shows perfectly ripe and polymerized tannins and a disarming beauty of sip. How beautiful.
Elegant and very well balanced. Nose with corniolo sensations, then caper fruits, black pepper in grains and hints of eucalyptus. Juicy and taut mouthfeel, with sapid tannins. It closes with memories of small fruits and balsamic sensations, accompanied by iodine memories.
This 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is little darker in color than some other Brunellos from the 2020 vintage. On the nose, it has appealing mixed fruit preserves, violets, grated nutmeg, black plum tart. It's very nicely balanced on the palate; the acid is well-integrated and cleanses the palate while retaining a pleasant roundness on the edges. The alcohol is just slightly warming but does not detract from the wine, and on the finish, orange peel, clove oil, and tapendade interplay amongst the fine and structured tannins. Very enjoyable! Alcohol 15%. Drink: 2025-2044. (12/12/24)"
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a bright red/orange-tinged color and is ripe and sapid on the nose with notes of crushed black raspberries, mocha, sweet herbs, and mossy, floral earth. It's elegant on the palate, with salty, mouthwatering accents, but the acidity is not what kicks that forward. It's ripe with plush, velvety tannins, hints of porcini, and earth tones that are sure to improve and build as the wine ages. It has a hearty texture in its medium frame and fills the palate with hints of black truffle. Drink over the coming 15 or more years. Drink 2025-2040 (Jan 2025)
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is a grippy, lifted wine with aromas of black fruit, crushed stone, grilled rosemary and lavender. The wine reveals a meaty and ripe texture with chewy fruit flavors.
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore, with a burst of crushed plums and black cherries accentuated by sweet herbs, hints of tobacco and wilted violets. It's round and supple with dark red fruits, autumnal spices that swirl throughout and a hint of cocoa that embellishes the close. Despite its depth and concentration, the 2020 maintains energy while coming across as wonderfully refined, leaves fine-grained tannins to resonate beneath an air of lavender and mocha.
Bright ruby garnet with a brightening rim. Extremely appealing nose, fine aromas of roses, ripe dark cherries, fresh blackberries and a hint of saffron. Supple on the palate with lush fruit, but also shows grippy, vivid tannins, firm drive on the finish, long finish.
Love the plums, cherries and flowers to this, with lots of stones and hints of spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with layers of fruit and open-grained tannins that show exquisite length and depth. It’s framed and veneered. Goes on for minutes. Drinkable now, but better in 2025.
There's no mistaking this wine for anything but Brunello. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful continuity, crescendoing on the nose and palate in synchronicity. There are aromas of grilled watermelon, red cherry, garden herb and violet, and there is a charred note that recalls the toasted oak. The bouquet balances out beautifully, but you do get considerably more power on the palate thanks to the oomph of 15% alcohol and young tannins that get under your gums. Give this wine a few more years of bottle age. Production is 66,915 bottles in addition to 4,500 smaller formats.
Dusky cherry and plum flavors are the main themes in this red, with accents of leather, spices and wild herbs. Lively and focused, with excellent harmony and a sequel of ripe cherry on the lingering finish. Best from 2026 through 2042.
The ‘basis’ of Ciacci Piccolomini house, another excellence of this winery. Great tension to the nose, red currant, nuances of laurel and eucalyptus. Juiciness and tension to the palate, brackish tannins, fruity-balsamic return on the closure.
Roasted herbs, walnuts, olives, dried cherries and balsamic on the nose with a touch of leather and sage. It’s full-bodied with firm, finely-knit tannins. Creamy and so well integrated with depth and class. Try after 2024.
Bright ruby red with a sparkling core. On the nose, fine fruit of wild strawberries, blood oranges, rose hips, underlined by a fine floral scent and licorice. Bright on the palate and with a hearty, creamy fruit core, it spreads beautifully over the tongue and is extremely enjoyable to drink!
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino turns out beautiful results if you choose to drink the wine now, or if you opt to age it a little longer. It offers immediate intensity and complexity with a prelude of red and purple berry fruits that follow to tarry spice, campfire ash, licorice and rusty nail. Those savoy tones are well measured against the wine's elegant, mid-weight finish. And the tannins are integrated seamlessly. The winemaking team has worked well in a challenging vintage.
Sweet cherry, vanilla bean and orange zest are on the nose, which slowly opens to reveal quieter aromas of cured meat and graphite. The palate emphasizes the savory with more sanguine notes pointed up by crisp fruit flavors of red apple skin and Bing cherry, emphasized by well-articulated tannins.
Dense and brooding, revealing plum, cherry, earth, menthol and tobacco flavors. On the austere side today, with buried fruit and dominant tannins, yet this has fine equilibrium and extended length.
Dark and brooding, taking its time to blow off a whiff of mocha before opening up with a mix of dried red fruits, cloves and rosemary. This is surprisingly pure and lifted in style while maintaining elegance, as ripe red and black fruits cascade across a core of vibrant acidity. The 2018 leaves the palate buzzing with residual tension, as fine-grained tannins penetrate deeply, and hints of tart wild berry and a dusting of cocoa slowly fade.
Editor's Choice - This delicious, bold red offers inviting aromas of fragrant blue flowers, spiced plum, forest floor and pipe tobacco. Full and enveloping in feel, it delivers a great depth of juicy black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and baking spice flavors framed in velvety tannins.
Rich and lively, exuding cherry, plum and blackberry fruit, with accents of earth and underbrush. Harmonious and accessible now, with fine length and a lingering, mineral-tinged finish. Best from 2024 through 2040. 5,750 cases made, 1,050 cases imported.
Generous, layered and rich, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows the generous fruit and deep layering that identifies this vintage. This edition shows a bright note of sweet cherry that features strongly both on the bouquet and the palate. The wine shows lots of soft fruit with almond, spice and wild rose. From a hot and dry vintage, this Brunello is probably best suited to a near or medium-term drinking window. Paolo Bianchini and his family shared the same frustrations as other top producers in the appellation regarding the hot and dry 2017 vintage. Thankfully, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.
Aromas of cedar, berry, mushroom and burnt orange follow through to a full body with medium, chewy tannins and a fluid, flavorful finish. Not overdone.
Bright ruby red. In the nose of blood oranges, rose hips, mint, also of eucalyptus, fine Mediterranean herbs in the aftertaste. Appears polished and elegant on the palate, with the finest enamel, high drinking flow with robust tannins, very well done.
A pretty and fruit-forward display of ripe cherries, minty herbs and sweet smoke wafts up from the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. This impresses further with a juicy, fun mix of bright red berries and confectionary spices motivated by vibrant acidity. Hints of plum and licorice linger long over a slightly gruff coating of tannins, yet in the end, balance is nicely maintained. Well done.
Red-berry, wild-rose, crushed mint and dark-spice aromas are front and center on this fragrant red. The full-bodied palate is concentrated but also boasts finesse, offering layers of raspberry jam, smooth licorice and tobacco alongside a backbone of enveloping, velvety tannins. You'll also detect the warmth of alcohol but the succulent fruit stands up to it. Drink 2024–2036.
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 56,000 bottles made) shows bold cherry, spice, crushed stone and balsam herb that come together in seamless fashion. This estate has honed a unique style that becomes a common theme traced to each new vintage. I'd describe it as delicate but also succulent with a rich and almost pulpy quality of fruit. The wine is fueled by the golden light that hits this part of Tuscany in those last hours of the day. Here is a wine that shows spirit of place.
Lots of red and blue fruit to this, evolving into wet leaves, freshly turned soil and brewed tea. Light herbal notes. Sweet cherries, too. It's full bodied with silky, firm tannins. More minerality and tea notes on the finish. Elegant and driven.
Light on its feet, this red evokes strawberry, cherry, earth, menthol and Tuscan scrub flavors. Shows a firm underlying structure, with a fresh and focused finish. Best from 2023 through 2042
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona places savory herbs, exotic spice and earth tones above ripeness of fruit. It’s decidedly dark and brooding on the nose, lifted by hints of fresh-picked mint and sage. There are depths of velvety textures in the mouth, offset by a tactile mix of tart wild berries, minerals and zesty acidity which adds vibrancy in spite of the tannic heft and primary intensity found here. The 2016 finishes with a monolithic feel, still wound up tightly in its youthful state but also promising many years of positive evolution in our cellars. This is gorgeous and a great value for age-worthy Brunello.
In southern Montalcino, the expansive Ciacci Piccolomini property is characterised by warm, perfumed afternoon breezes coming in from the Mediterranean. The wines are typically headily scented and generous in alcohol, as is the case in 2016; however, I find much more freshness and focus than in the 2015s. Aromas include sun-kissed cherry and raspberry with red rose, tobacco, sage and thyme. Light on its feet with grainy tannins that dissolve easily, this is almost ready to drink. An amaro-like finish persists and stimulates the appetite.
Luminous, elegant ruby red. On the nose of ripe cherries, a hint of blood orange and a noble spice note. Opens on the palate with fine sweetness and balanced play, warm-hearted and clear with robust tannins and fine pressure.
Extremely perfumed and decadent with dried flowers and spices and fresh mushrooms. Cherries,too. Full body. Solid core of fruit, yet ever so fine tannins. Goes on for minutes. Such beautifully crafted tannins. Drink after 2021.
Editor's Choice. Enticing aromas of ripe wild berry, iris, camphor and sunbaked soil take shape in the glass. Full bodied and enveloping, the smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and tobacco while firm velvety tannins provides support. It boasts concentration and structure but also balance, thanks to the fruit richness and freshness. Drink 2023-2030.
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate enjoys a beautiful and huge expanse of vineyards at the back of the Castelnuovo dell'Abate village, where the downward slope of the hamlet meets the Orcia River, which delineates the appellation border. The estate's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers lovely harmony and elegance. The wine's taste profile follows the soft contours and beautiful horizons that characterize this beautiful part of Tuscany. The mouthfeel is medium-weight but carefully balanced with just enough acidity to add brightness. It shows just enough backbone to guarantee staying power and longevity. That said, the tannins are carefully integrated into the delicate fiber of the wine. This is no doubt one of the most graceful Brunellos to emerge from the 2015 vintage. Some 74,500 bottles were released in January 2020.
Distinctly salty, this red features cherry, strawberry, juniper, thyme and tobacco flavors. Tightly wound and energetic, with fine balance and a lingering, resonant aftertaste. Complex and built to age.
Dark red. Notes of iodine, five spice mix and cloves complement ripe red cherry on the nose and in the mouth. Long smooth finish.
Editor's Choice. Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this radiant, full-bodied red opens with enticing scents of ripe black-skinned fruit, iris, cake spice and a whiff of camphor. On the linear yet delicious palate, elegant tannins and bright acidity support succulent black cherry, plum and licorice before a lingering tobacco finish. Drink 2021–2029.
Like the other wines I tasted from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona this year, I am surprised by the soft ripeness achieved in the 2014 Brunello di Montalcino. This was a cool and soggy vintage so those dark and sweet fruit flavors are counterintuitive. However, they elevate the wine to a higher intensity threshold and a more profound flavor profile. The wine offers enough crisp acidity and tannic firmness to hold it tightly together at this young stage in its lifespan.
There’s a handy array of quite ripe red-berry and cherry aromas here that lead to a palate that has attractive red cherries with soft, earthy nuances and fine, chalky tannins. Drink now.
The Ciacci Piccolomini estate is in the southeastern reaches of Montalcino, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate. It was originally under ecclesiastical ownership but after passing through the hands of two noble families since 1868, the estate was bequeathed to Giuseppe Bianchini, a long-time farmer at the property, in 1985. It's now in the hands of Giuseppe's children, Paolo and Lucia. This 2014 has intriguing and ethereal scents of late summer fruit with garden herbs and tobacco. Ripe and elegantly crafted, it has a succulent blood orange undertow and finishes with chalky tannins. Drinking Window 2019 - 2027.
Full red-ruby. Deep aromas of dark red cherry, blackberry, licorice, shoe polish, and fresh herbs. Enters big and tannic, with rich dark fruit and herb flavors, but not especially graceful and loaded with currently youthful but also harsh tannins. Clearly not as deep or as well balanced as the best recent vintages of this wine (given the challenging vintage) but closes long with repeating plum and dark berry flavors. This wine’s tannins certainly call for some patience but should come around as there’s enough fruit lurking beneath that tannic cloak.
Exuding cherry, strawberry, floral and tobacco aromas and flavors, this effusive, fruity style is bright and elegant, with terrific harmony and a long, mouthwatering finish that leaves a mineral impression. Very compelling. Best from 2020 through 2036.
Editor's Choice. Underbrush, tobacco, ripe berry and balsamic aromas abound in this delicious red. Smooth, full-bodied and savory, the succulent palate doles out Marasca cherry, rasberry compote, licorice and white pepper. It's well balanced, with firm yet refined tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2021-2033.
This wine initally comes off as more somber, brooding and dark in personality. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino takes a few moments in the glass before its starts to relax and grow in volume and context. Before long, opulent tones of black fruit, spices and pipe tobacco. The wine is elegantly tempered and finessed on the close. Some 68,000 bottles were produced.
Aromas of light coffee, plum and cherry follow through to full body with a wealth of dried fruit and hints of figs. Drink or hold.
Bright red. The fresh, clean, perfumed nose hints at red cherry and blood orange. Then sweet and supple on the palate, but with a lively mouthfeel to the red fruit and underbrush flavors thanks to harmonious, vibrant acidity. Has much more midpalate flesh to support its acidity than some other less successful 2013 Brunellos, all of which are made in a similar high-acid style typical of the vintage. Finishes broad, savory and nicely persistent. This 2013 from Ciacci Piccolomini is made in a much cooler- climate style than is usual for this producer.
Dark spice, ripe berry, forest floor, Mediterranean brush and new leather aromas lead the nose on this powerfull structured wine. On the full-bodied palate, baking spice, licorice and pipe tobacco notes accent a juicy black cherry core while firm, velvety tannins provide the framework. Drink 2020-2030.
Bright, dark garnet red. Opens initially with slightly earthy notes, then nice goji berries and pomegranate, with cloves in the background. Fine, sweet melting on the palate, initially shows beautiful raspberry fruit, then unfolds very finely with soft tannins in many layers, juicy and long.
Wow. I love the texture and beauty of this young Brunello. Medium to full body with a dense and tightly compacted palate. Dried cherry light cedar and chocolate. It goes on for minutes. Gorgeous now. Excellent acid fruit balance, but will improve with age.
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautifully finessed and elegant wine. It offers a very pleasing sense of balance in which no one characteristic overpowers the next. A dark ruby appearance gives the wine an open and inviting personality. The bouquete produces a subtle medley of wild berry, blueberry, underbrush and toasted almond aromas. The mouthfeel is lean, but it also shows polished and silky persistence. If you don't have the patience to wait, it tastes great even at this early stage.
The aromas of wet earth, sliced mushrooms and blueberry are very pretty. Full body, firm tannins. Structured and firm. Excellent. One of the wines of the vintage. Drink now or hold.
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous. In 2011, proprietor Paolo Bianchini bottled just one Brunello. That commitment to quality comes through loud and clear. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in an effortless, incredibly inviting wine. The warmth of the vintage and the natural generosity of these vineyards in Castelnuovo is evident, yet the 2011 possesses remarkable balance to match all of that intensity. I don't expect the 2011 to make old bones, but is gorgeous today. Readers should expect a flamboyant, decadently full-throttle wine built on voluptuousness and generous, racy fruit. Bianchini gave the 2011 three full years in cask.
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino represents a return to the traditional values of Montalcino. The bouquet is buoyant and bright with lingering tones of smoke, ash, balsam herb, licorice and soy sauce. Those kinds of aromas make Brunello such a wonderful wine and thankfully you get them in abundance here. Dry mineral and brimstone also give the wine a sense of focus, sharpness and cleanliness that is very appealing. The close is long, fine and polished. I look forward to retasting this bottle five years from now.
Very perfumed with flower, truffle, light wet earth and cherry character. Full body and full integrated ripe tannins and caresses your palate. Very fine and pretty. Slight soya undertone. Succulent and enticing. You want to drink this. Better in 2016.
Ciacci Piccolomini produced almost twice as many bottles of their normale in the banner 2010 vintage than in the previous year, and it offers tremendous value. Juicy flavors of red raspberry and cherry flow over dusty tannins like a stream over a sandy bank, picking up notes of anise, tobacco and fennel as the wine moves toward a vibrant and lingering finish. The fine texture and intense red fruit flavors make this a compelling wine to enjoy with a thick grilled pork chop.
Sparkling ruby with a fine garnet shimmer. Complex and exciting nose, shows notes of pomegranate, pickled cherries, some ginger and cloves, inviting. Very fine on the palate, ripe, dark cherry notes, opens with fine-meshed tannins, fine melting at the back, long aftertaste.
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a great example of the Ciacci house style. Rich, layered and ample, the 2010 blossoms with notable depth and amplitude. This is a classic Brunello from Castelnuovo dell'Abate, where the wines are typically resonant and generous. Readers will find a gorgeous, highly expressive Brunello that will deliver considerable near and medium-term pleasure. Curshed flowers, tobacco and cherry pit add nuance on the soft, open finish. The 2010 spent two and half years in barrel.
Tight and sinewy, with eucalyptus, cherry, spice and tobacco flavors. The tannins lock this down for now, but the energy and balance persist, showing fine length. Best from 2018 through 2032.
Proprietor Paolo Bianchini made some tough choices in 2009. There is no Riserva and no Pianrosso. Instead, all of that fruit went into the straight 2009 Brunello di Montalcino, which is one of the best wines of this very challenging vintage. That it comes from the southern part of Montalcino is even all the more remarkable. Sweet tobacco, menthol, racy red cherries, hard candy, spices and Mediterranean herbs blossom in an impeccable, large-scaled Brunello loaded with class. The style is quite rich and textured, but all the elements are in the right place.
This is savory and fruity with full body of fruit and spicy, dried -berry and fig character. Round-textured, with light chewy tannins. A year of bottle age will improve it even more: try in 2015.
Irony mineral nose with notes of cofee and juniper. Full and quite broad on palate with slightly rustic tannins. Some potential but needs time to find its harmony. Better in 2014.
Lots of fresh mushrooms, with dark fruits on the nose. Full body, with silky tannins and a juicy finish. Balanced and attractive. Slightly chewy now. Better in 2015.
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino emerges from the glass with black cherries, plums, tobacco, spices and licorice. In 2007 the Brunello is especially dark and muscular for the vintage. The warmth of the year plus the estate's search to make a Brunello that is more approachable in both price and early appeal comes through in spades. The 2007 is a bit bombastic today, but it should settle down with another year or two in bottle.
Intense aromas of black fruits and flowers follow through to a full body, with intense fruit and racy, strong tannins. Long and chewy. Dense and impressive. Give this three to four years of bottle age.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is an attractive entry-level wine. Dark red berries,crushed flowers, licorice and mint are some of the nuances that emerge from this fleshy, mid-weight offering. The aromas and flavors are decidedly on the ripe side of the spectrum in the racy 2006, but the intensity of the fruit covers the tannins nicely, making this an attractive wine for near-term pleasure.
The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is wonderfully plump and juicy in its expressive red fruit. Floral notes are woven throughout, giving the wine its sense of lift and proportion. Though not as explosive as the 2004, the 2005 Brunello di Montalcino offers outstanding persistence on the palate and a long, generous finish. This is a terrific effort form Ciacci.
A solid red, with silky tannins and mineral, berry and lightly toasted oak. Full and rich. Lovely now, but better in 2012.
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino reveals sweet, open aromatics meld seamlessly into a perfumed core of ripe red fruits. This is one of the more intensely scented, fruit-driven Brunellos of the vintage. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an engaging style. The softness of the tannins makes the wine accessible even today, yet the flavor profile is decidedly youthful. Readers looking for a measure of terriary development will need to give this wine a few years in bottle. This bottling is made from the estate's youngest vines.
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino reveals sweet, open aromatics meld seamlessly into a perfumed core of ripe red fruits. This is one of the more intensely scented, fruit-driven Brunello's of the vintage. The wine reveals superior density and richness in an engaging style. The softness of the tannins makes the wine accessible even today, yet the flavor profile is decidedly youthful. Readers looking for a measure of tertiary development will need to give the wine a few years in bottle. The bottling is made form the estate's youngest vines. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.
The estate's medium-bodied 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is made in an accesible, forward style. Dark cherries, tobacco, earthiness and tar nuance all flow form the glass in this poised, feminine expression of Sangiovese form the southern part of Montalcino. The wine shows outstanding persistence and a pretty note of freshness that rounds out the finish.
Deep red. Brooding aromas of dark cherry, plum, date and roasted coffee. Sweet, ripe and broad but not heavy; very suave and aromatic in the mouth, with good verve. A firmly structured wine that finishes with ripe but serious tannins, an impression of elevated alcohol and very good length. Late notes of leather, game and minerals add nuance.
Good red-ruby. Subtly complex nose melds cassis, truffle and expensive oak; shows an almost liquor-like sweetness. Then supple, dense and bright, with a pliant texture and excellent depth of flavor. This is ripe and fleshy but also classically dry, structured and elegant, with lovely inner-mouth perfume. Very penetrating, long wine, finishing with suave tannins that are firm but fine.
The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits a soft, supple, elegant, sweet nose of underbrush, licorice, jammy currants and cherries, spice box, and tobacco. Medium-bodied and luscious, this sexy, kinky Brunello will drink well for 5-10 years.
The Pianrosso has always been the Estate’s most representative wine, a Cru Brunello crafted from the finest Sangiovese grapes grown in the vineyard of the same name, in the heart of the Val d’Orcia. An intense and complex, fruit-forward bouquet reveals ripe red berry fruits and a variety of spicy notes. Warm, soft and harmonious on the palate, pronounced tannins, acidity and a savory note bring balance to the wine. An elegant wine with great potential for additional aging in the cellar.
Intense, vibrant aromas of strawberries and raspberries, together with cola and flowery notes. Milk and mint nuances, too. Shows a lot of licorice elegance and blood-orange freshness on both the nose and palate with firm, velvety tannins and well-packed, brilliant acidity and a polished finish. Good aftertaste and amazing potential. Very classic. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
A bright orange/red color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Pianorosso is very pretty on the nose, with notes of pomegranate, roses, potpourri, sweet herbs, and a hint of menthol. Medium-framed, it's elegant and harmonious, with a weightless feel, ripe and chalky tannins, and a clean, balanced finish. I think it will gain depth and complexity as it matures, but it sure is lovely to check in with now. Drink 2026-2046. (Jan 2025)
Bright, elegant ruby red. Restrained on the nose, still, with cold smoke and burnt sage. Hearty on the palate with a rich feeling and progression, polished and with creamy tannins. Needs some time in the glass, then comes in several layers: powerful, rich and full, muscular and opulent, flinty.
Freshly split pine, tobacco and stone dust gives way to dried strawberries and mint nuances as the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso slowly blossoms in the glass. Silken and serene, this excels through its acidity, cool-toned and fresh, enlivening the 2020s core of rich wild berry fruits. Hints of blood orange add further gravitas as it finishes with a surprisingly juicy character, leaving edgy tannins and a pleasantly bitter concentration. This wild child will require cellaring to come fully into focus, yet I'm incredibly excited to revisit it in another three to five years.
Good medium-deep red. Red cherry, crystallized redcurrant, licorice and menthol aromas are nicely complicated by a syrupy element. Then showcases candied flower nuances in the mouth, boasting good inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of sour cherry, licorice and sweet spices. Much deeper, spicier and more tannic than the regular 2020 Brunello from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona. Drinking window: 2028-2038. (Dec 2024)
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso reveals dark fruit aromas, cherry liqueur, brandied plum and sweet crème de cassis. This is a thickly grained Brunello with a soft, richly textured core. I recommend a medium-term drinking window.
Clear ruby with a bright garnet rim. Finely drawn, appealing nose with clear notes of rosehip, crisp cherries, some blood orange and clove. Opens on the palate with pithy, gripping tannins, flows calmly, with a lovely sweet texture as it progresses, very good tension, salty and long.
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso opens to a wide and all-encompassing bouquet with dried cherry or cherry pie with the crust, plum tart and rose potpourri. There are evident oak tones, but they fold into underbrush, grilled herb and the generous texture of this wine. Likewise, the 15% alcohol content also neatly disappears into the wine's fleshy fruit consistency. For sure, this is a wine that needs more bottle evolution in order to hone in on the silkiness and pretty freshness of such an important Sangiovese. Exactly 43,054 bottles were made along with about 1,000 larger formats.
Aged in Slavonian oak for 36 months, Pianrosso is a selection from the self-titled vineyard: 11 hectares in the lower southeast of Montalcino. The grapes were harvested between 11 September and 4 October 2019, suggesting a classic vintage. It shines for its Earl Grey tea aroma combined with dark cherry, cinnamon, liquorice, and a floral bouquet. The fruit character is very dark and precise; gorgeous in this vintage. Full bodied, thick and velvety with firm, long yet integrated acidity, it tapers on the finish but this should be considered a signifier of its elegance.
Dried cherries and flowers, such as roses and rose stems, as well as dried mushrooms and dried flowers. Medium to full body with super integrated tannins that are firm and racy and caress the palate like fine silk. A little shy now, but will open even more with time or decanting. Drink or hold.
A certainty of the denomination for Bianchini family’s winery, located a few steps from Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Very faceted nose, red currant, then marjoram and iodine touches, such as taggiasche olives. The sip is juicy-brackish, with fruity-officinal return and very long persistence.
Medium dense ruby. Finely marked nose with notes of wild raspberries, ripe small plums, some cardamom and rose petals. Round and supple on the attack, showing plenty of fruit texture, lots of raspberry, opens up on the back end with finely-meshed, slightly grippy tannins, savoury, slight bitterness on the finish.
Top 100 Wines of Italy 2022 - #54. This is so complex, with lifting citrus and herb undertones to the blue and red berry fruit. Thyme, sage and lavender, with mocha and clove, too. Full-bodied, full of depth and intensity, with firm yet seamless tannins. Evolves to espresso. Balanced, powerful and very long. Try after 2025.
A special single-vineyard wine with origins in one of the more remote, wild and beautiful corners of Montalcino, this is one of the true treats of the appellation. The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino “Pianrosso” opens to a medium-rich appearance and vibrant color saturation. Sangiovese can lose its color quickly, but it remains beautifully intact here. Sweet cherry, redcurrant, spice, blue flower, balsam herb and orange peel are neatly woven together to create this balanced wine. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is definitely among my top 10 favorite wines from 2018, a challenging vintage that produced uneven results across the board. This estate expertly faced those difficulties to produce a stand-out wine.
Comforting, classic Sangiovese aromas of vanilla, orange peel, cherry and cola on the nose transition onto a palate that levels up the sophistication with austere tannins and fiery acidity balanced by violet, cherry and more orange zest onto a coffee finish.
Dark depths of crushed plums and black cherries are offset by notes of rosemary, spiced citrus peels and hints of cocoa as the 2018 Pianrosso opens in the glass. This is an especially racy style for, with cooling mineral tones and zesty acidity propelling its ripe berry fruit and hints of sour citrus across the palate. While structured, this finishes with tremendous energy and freshness, leaving the mouth watering with a lingering hint of balsamic spice. The 2018 may not possess the power often associated with the Pianrosso, but it instead impresses with its lively and spicy character.
A complex red, with dark, savory notes of licorice, eucalyptus and tobacco aligned with cherry and berry flavors. Succulent, showing light viscosity to the texture, with wild herb and iron elements creeping in on the long finish. Power meets grace.
Both of Ciacci Piccolomini’s 2018s offer a ‘deliciousness’ of taste and a truly umami quality, however the Pianrosso selection delivers greater Brunello satisfaction. Not quite 12 hectares, this iron-rich marly vineyard soaked up just enough warmth to clearly demonstrate its southern origins. It has more shape, form and depth to lend endurance. Iron and salty minerals emerge from a backdrop of persimmon and hibiscus, finishing with Mediterranean herbs. Docile and yielding, the gentle sandy tannins give textural complexity as well as an immediate drinkability.
Garnet red. Opened with markedly fragrant notes of fresh dark cherries, some rosehip and fine rose petals, amazingly fresh notes. Round and supple in the approach, opens with beautifully ripe fruit notes, well integrated tannins.
This full-bodied red starts off with aromas of leather, forest floor and camphor. Enveloping and structured, the palate shows a weightless concentration, featuring dried cherry, licorice, tobacco and a hint of orange zest framed in velvety tannins.
Shows nice balance and elegance, and it definitely shows the deft hand of the winemaking team in what was not an easy vintage by any stretch. This pretty wine delivers lots of fresh cherry and wild rose, with ferrous earthy, licorice and grilled herb; I also get bay leaf and rosemary sprig. Like the annata 2017 Brunello produced by this estate, the single-vineyard Brunello Pianrosso is distinguished by a sweet cherry note that accompanies the wine from start to finish. Paolo Bianchini and his family shared the same frustrations as other top producers in the appellation regarding the hot and dry 2017 vintage. Thankfully, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.
This is a beautifully crafted and polished Brunello for this vintage, with full body and creamy, lightly chewy tannins. Dark berries, walnuts and cedar with dried-flower undertones. Needs time to soften, but very pretty.
A nuanced, delicate bouquet of dried strawberries, roses, hints of sweet spice and crushed rocks lifts up from the charming 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso. This is remarkably lifted, yet juicy and energetic, as ripe red berries and minerals cascade across the palate. It leaves a coating of violet-tinged florals, along with persistent raspberry and cherry tones. The tannin management here is absolutely stunning, as the Pianrosso finishes structured yet vividly fresh.
This red exhibits sappy, concentrated flavors of cherry, currant, plum, tobacco and soy. Shows intensity midpalate, persisting on the firm, chalky finish. Best from 2025 through 2040. 3,093 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.
Ciacci Piccolomini’s 12ha flagship vineyard, Pianrosso sits above the Orcia river between 240 and 360 metres. It is consistently caressed by sea breezes which surface in the afternoon. The lavish warmth of this southern zone is palpable in the heady 15% alcohol and soft, laidback acidity. Nevertheless, there is focus and liveliness. Orange blossom and persimmon aromas lead to flavours of toothsome red plum and an attractive lingering bergamot finish. While immediate and accessible with mellow tannins, there is enough substance to carry this 2017 for another five years. Drinking Window 2022 - 2027
Aromas of red berry, camphor and tobacco meld with rose in this fragrant, full-bodied red. The smooth palate is concentrated yet elegant, featuring raspberry jam, cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and coffee bean alongside a backbone of firm, velvety tannins.
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is a single-vineyard expression that draws its fruit from an 11.7-hectare parcel with moderately thick galestro soils with ancient marine material. This special site, awash under the brilliant light of a big, open sky, does indeed deliver a more pronounced mineral signature, with wild berry, rose and rosemary essence. This is a beautiful wine, taut and silky, with elegant tannins that will endure ambitious bottle aging.
Lots going on here with black plums, ripe cherries, cedar, smoke and cocoa on the nose. Ash, chocolate, crushed walnuts and some praline. Mushrooms. This has firm, ripe tannins and a full body. Flavorful and juicy finish. Very structured.
Sparkling, bright garnet red. Opened with notes of tobacco and ripe plums, in the background of liquorice. Gripping, firm tannin on the palate spreads out full, firm and full-bodied, shows a lot of ripe fruit notes, slightly malty in the finale, but still full pressure and long finish.
Dark, rich and deeply alluring, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso boasts a display of ripe black fruits encased in an air of crushed stone, sage and exotic spice. While velvety and almost creamy in texture, it finds harmony through juicy acids and a mix of ripe black cherry and plums. Hints of licorice and baker’s chocolate balance the Pianrosso’s salty minerality and fine-grained tannins through the long and dramatic finale. There’s beautiful symmetry here for a wine with such power. Place this in the cellar for ten years or more; but don’t make the mistake of not checking in from time to time, because I expect the 2016 to enjoy a long and open drinking window.
Considered the estate’s most representative vineyard, Pianrosso was replanted in the 1980s. It sits on iron rich marly soil and reaches 360 metres above sea level. Weightier and richer than the estate Brunello, it is also more mineral-laden. A promising nose of pungent potpourri and cherry orchard leads to plum cake on the palate. Layered velvety tannins clasp substantial fruit while offsetting hints of orange oil and fennel that provide refreshment. Drinking Window 2023 – 2033.
Cherry, iron, sanguine and black tea flavors highlight this sinewy red. Vibrant and solidly built, shows assertive tannins lining the finish. Has enough ripe fruit to offset the structure, and the aftertaste persists, with fruit, iron and underbrush accents. Best from 2024 through 2045.
Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decdent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.
#12 The Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020 - Intense aromas of berry, iris, underbrush, botanical herb and camphor shape the enticing nose. Firmly structured, the taut, full-bodied palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2025-2035.
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.
Black cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors mark this saturated red. Beefy tannins offer support and all the components are in the right place. Stays fresh and long on the finish, with lingering accents of fruit, mineral and tobacco.
Deep red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, cinnamon, mocha, ginger and blood orange. Smooth and multifaceted, with strong licorice notes emerging on the long suave close.
Wild-berry, fragrant purple-flower and crushed aromatic herb aromas mingle with whiffs of tilled earth and new leather on this dazzling red. The stunning, savory palate boasts remarkable finesse combined with an age-worthy structure, offering succulent black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and tobacco alongside taut, refined tannins. It's impeccably balanced, with bright acidity. It's already tempting, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2021–2033.
Although this wine is not labeled as a riserva, it is released six years after the harvest as if it were one. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso (with 20,000 bottles produced) opens to balanced fragrances that mix fruity elements with spice, crushed stone and smoke. This wine is linear and direct with firm tannic support at the back. Give it another few years to flesh out further with additional bottle aging.
The Pianrosso is a selection of the oldest vines from a single vineyard of almost 12ha, at an altitude of between 240 and 360 metres. It matures in Slavonian oak casks and ages for six years before release. Macerated cherry, plum, anise, eucalyptus and heady florals come out with some coaxing. Full and rich in style, the palate is held together by layers of powdery tannins, while stony, mineral-like nuances add intrigue. It needs a couple more years to fully express itself, but is already demonstrating great persistence and definition. Drinking Window 2021 - 2033
A wealth of coffee and spice aromas with ripe fruit. Full body and round tannins. Delicious and rich. Flavorful finish. Opulent style. Drink or hold.
Deep ruby. Exotically perfumed scents of red berry liqueur, Asian spices, potpourri and licorice, with a herbal quality adding lift. Big, rich and dense, with sappy cherry-cola and raspberry flavors picking up a refreshingly savory edge with air. Finishes long, showcasing excellent clarity and power.
Enticing, with warm, savory notes of cardamom, cinnamon and tobacco adding depth to the plum and mulled cherry flavors. Leather and iron accents emerge on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 1,667 cases made, 833 cases imported.
This is all about finesse and beauty with such great length and polish. It literally melts in your mouth. Full-bodied yet agile and vivid. So many undertones of cedar, berries, cream and light toffee. Fabulous. Contender for the wine of the vintage.
Ripe black-skinned fruit, underbrush, truffle and dark spice aromas come together in this full-bodied red. The palate is firm and seamless, delivering mature black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and pipe tobacco flavors with both power and finesse. Tightly knit, polished tannins provide structure.
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona is one of the headline estates of Montalcino and the Pianrosso single vineyard is known for its consistency and the steady grace of its performance. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso does not quite reach the heights of the outstanding 2010 vintage. This release comes near in terms of power and purity, although it bears some of the weight of the hot vintage. The darkness of fruit is more pronounced and the tannins are a bit softer. Make no mistake, the thick soils of the Pianrosso site have helped to achieve impressive balance. The long finish offers tobacco, balsam herb and dried fruit.
This red balances juicy cherry and plum fruit, tobacco and leather accents, and firm yet pliable tannins. As a result, this is vibrant and long, with earth and iron elements emerging on the aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2033.
Good full red. Captivating nose combines dark red berries, sweet spices, botanical herbs and licorice. Sweet and sappy but still youthfully closed, his conveys a more powerful mouthfilling saline impresion of extract than the Brunello classico. Finishes suave and rich, but with a strong underlying acid-tannin spine providing support.
Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow thorugh to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savory finish. Very intense and very long. Succulent. Amazing balance and depth to this red. It's so beautiful to taste now but it will be much better in five to ten years. A triumph.
The 2010 Ciacci Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is everything a contemporary Brunello form the southern side of town is supposed to be; warm, open, generous and easy to drink on release. A gorgeous, textured wine, the Pianrosso only suffers because of some of the other wines on the table. In any other context, it would surely be one of the very best wines on the table. This is a gorgeous showing. The Pianrosso also forms an instructive contrast to the Casanova di Neri. Both wines are made in a style that emphasizes richness and texture, but the Ciacci has more depth through the middle and a considerably longer finish.
Rich, with cherry and strawberry notes, tinged by leather, bitter almond and tobacco flavors. Firm and angular, presenting a long, iron- and tea-accented finish. Turns more supple with air, but remains solidly built for the long haul. Best from 2019 through 2033.
Aromas of dried cherries and plums with hints of flowers follow through to a full body with velvety tannins and a juicy, meaty, fruity aftertaste. Turns to chocolate powder as well. Drink or hold.
The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is more layered, perfumed and subtle than the straight Brunello. Freshly cut flowers, dark red fruit, licorice, spices and menthol are all layered together nicely in the glass. A wine of considerable texture and depth, the 2008 Pianrosso should drink well for at least a handful of years. There is no shortage of depth, richness or complexity in this fine effort. This is an especially concentrated style for the year, but it works.
The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is more layered, perfumed and subtle than the straight Brunello. Freshly cut flowers, dark red fruit, licorice, spices and menthol are all layered together nicely in the glass. A wine of considerable texture and depth, the 2008 Pianrosso should drink well for at least a handful of years. There is no shortage of depth, richness or complexity in this fine effort. This is an especially concentrated style for the year, but it works. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2025.
Graphite and cedar aromas lead off in this cherry-, strawberry- and licorice-flavored red. This is firm, with quiet intensity and a dense, spice-infused finish. Best from 2015 through 2030.
Complex aromas of red fruit, flowers and fresh mushrooms follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and intense fruit and bright acidity. Goes on for a long, long time. So juicy and fruity. Hints of bitter lemon rind. Give this two or three years more of bottle age.
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is fresher, more floral and more delineated than the straight Brunello bottling. There is plenty of Ciacci depth and muscle in the glass. Layers of dark red fruit, crushed flowers, licorice and spices wrap around the intense, deep finish. This is a huge wine with tons of 2007 Castelnuovo character, but also with enough freshness to balance out the wine's more extroverted leanings. The 2007 is a big improvement over the 2006, which remains an underachiever relative to Ciacci's historical track record of excellence.
The estate's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso possesses striking depth as endless layers of sweet , perfumed fruit emerge with tons of grace. This, too, is an intense, full-bodied wine. The balance here is utterly exceptional, and the wine's sheer plumpness makes for a highly rewarding glass of Brunello. Succulent dark cherries, spices, underbrush, minerals and new leather come to life as the wine sits in the glass, yet this remains a backward, structured Brunello in need of serious bottle age. The Pianrosso is a terrific effort from proprietor Paolo Bianchini. Ciacci's Pianrosso is an old-vines selection that spent 36 months in Slavonian oak.
Aromas of dried flowers, cocoa and sweet fragant red flowers sit fresh, ahead of gentle leather and dried red cherries. Add to this a more savory thread on the palate and this has plenty still to offer. Drink over the next six years.
The Santa Catarina d’Oro Riserva is produced only in the finest vintages from a careful selection of grapes from the Pianrosso vineyard, followed by a lengthy aging period (3 years in barrel plus minimum one year in bottle). The result is a gorgeous, intense and complex wine with alluring ethereal aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, truffle, plum and eucalyptus. Smooth and full-bodied, yet elegant, with a savory, juicy palate, fresh acidity and enveloping tannins.
Bright ruby red, with subtle brightening on the rim. Aromas of ripe cherries, ripe strawberries, dried rose petals, a hint of sealing wax and subtle notes of tobacco. Very full-bodied, rich and engaging on the palate, with great salinity and juiciness. A big, vibrant and powerful wine with a long finish.
Wow. The ripe yet fresh aromas are so alluring and compelling, showing plums, cedar, rose petals and hints of leather. Full-bodied yet framed and tensioned with fantastic length and intensity. Polished tannins are powerful but reserved, showing great presence and character. This is a monumental wine in many senses of the word. One for the cellar.
Legendary in its sensorial profile, it shows a solid presence of red fruits well blended with captivating dusty and scratchy nuances of graphite, mandarin peel, chopped cedar and marjoram. There’s more in the background with notes of camphor, jasmine and karkadè. Full body, savory and slender in the sip it shows fullness, harmony and depth. Better from 2027.
The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro offers a darkly concentrated approach with a bouquet built upon black fruit intensity, spice, earth and cured tobacco. I find the approach quite robust and heavy-handed. This vintage is especially concentrated and best recommended to those looking for this hearty style.
Dark, brooding and potent, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro Riserva is a force to be reckoned with. It launches from the glass with a burst of crushed blackberries, plums and exotic spices, further complicated by dried orange peels and cedar shavings. Velvety and weighty, this floods the palate with rich and enveloping textures. This retains a core of tantalizing and stabilizing acidity, with ripe red and black fruits that drench the senses. The 2019 tapers off with dramatic length and structure, leaving a framework of sweet tannins and resonance of salted licorice and mocha that lingers on.
Top 100 wines of 2021 - #9, James Suckling: “Glorious aromas of flowers, nutmeg, dark berries, earth and black cherries follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that are long and extremely polished. They go on for minutes. Reserved and shy still, due to its excellence. Give this four or five years to come around.
Bright, rich garnet red. Very clear and intense nose, full of ripe raspberries, pickled cherries and some liquorice in the background. Plenty of ripe fruit on the palate, grippy tannins, firm intensity in the finish, with lingering notes of plums.
Both fluid and concentrated at once, this exudes cherry, black currant, violet and mineral aromas and flavors. Saturated with ripe fruit, this has beautifully integrated acidity and tannins, with a racy profile that drives the superlong finish. The tannins flex their muscles at the end yet remain refined. Best from 2024 through 2042. 915 cases made, 400 cases imported.
Gorgeous, full stop. It shows an incredible level of Sangiovese purity and sharpness, and you taste the grape as if you were eating berries straight out of the vineyard. On top of that healthy and bright primary material, the wine layers on elegant aromas of spice, ferrous earth, balsam herb and red rose potpourri. The aromas meet with seamless integration and segue to ongoing depth and complexity offered to the palate. This Riserva is rather delicate in terms of mouthfeel; however, it is powerful and long, polished tannins and a silky texture. A hint of sweet cherry mixed with menthol freshness pulls it together at the end. The Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona estate is located in a rather cool location with south-facing vines and well-draining galestro soils on the back side of Castelbuovo dell'Abate. I always like to think of this tiny hilltop hamlet as the place where the day's sunbeams shine in Montalcino before sunset. This estate is certified for organic farming.
Underbrush, scorched earth, camphor and pipe tobacco aromas shape the nose. Full-bodied and densely concentrated, the firm, muscular palate features dried cherry, licorice and marinated prune framed in tightly woven, close-grained tannins. You'll also notice the warmth of alcohol on the close. Drink 2026–2031.
Dark yet wonderfully perfumed, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro blossoms in the glass to present a bouquet of dried strawberries and roses complemented by hints of blood orange and clove. It shows the power and grace of a well-muscled dancer as a dense wave of ripe red and black fruits rushes across the palate, lifted by bright acidity, while leaving a mix of saline-minerals and grippy tannins toward the close. Though structured for the long haul, the 2016 maintains unexpected vibrancy, finishing with hints of plum and almond. This is simply stunning.
From the estate’s Pianrosso vineyard in the Castelnuovo dell’Abate area, Santa Caterina d’Oro bears the imprint of Montalcino’s south. The spiced, floral potpourri is tangled with sunbaked terracotta scents. This is a substantial, hefty wine with lots of extract and a profusion of fleshy red plum and prune. The tannins are very suave, while sandy earthiness lurks in the background and a salty tang comes through on the finish. Ageing is in Slavonian oak barrels of 7.5 to 30 hectolitres in size. Drinking Window 2022 - 2031
The opulence of fruit and complexity of earth, meat, mushroom, and cedar is breathtaking. It's full-bodied, deep, and powerful with so much intensity and depth. Chewy and layered, it goes on for minutes. Give it even more time. Try after 2023.
There’s a bright edge to this red, harnessing the cherry, strawberry, rosehip, mineral and tobacco flavors that build on the palate to a long finish. Displays terrific energy and balance, with an aftertaste that echoes both fruit and savory elements. Best from 2024 through 2050.
Enticing aromas of ripe wild berry, iris, camphor and sunbaked soil take shape in the glass. Full in feel and enveloping, the smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and tobacco while firm, velvety tannins provide support. It boasts concentration and structure but also balance, thanks to the fruit richness and freshness. Drink 2023–2030.
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is a fine and delicate wine that cleverly delivers the intensity of the vintage but without the heaviness or the ripeness. This wine holds back, just enough, to affirm its poised balance in terms of fruit richness, texture and tannin structure. It shows symmetry throughout. Dark cherry fruit, cassis, plum, lavender, and campfire ash set the tone. The mouthfeel is thickly woven and generous. This special Riserva represents a 11,000-bottle production.
A selection of bunches from Ciacci Piccolomini’s iron-rich Pianrosso vineyard in Montalcino’s southeast, this sees a long maceration and ageing in variously sized used Slavonian oak barrels. It strikes a fine balance of generous ripeness with freshness and juiciness. Pure strawberry, cherry and raspberry meet lilac, rose and an underlying minerality. It's fluid and almost easy to drink, though long, powdery tannins expand across the palate giving textural complexity. It leaves the mouth clean but wanting more with an appetising blood orange finish.
Mature and complex, it gives notes of wet geraniums, incense, sandalwood and drops of bergamot. In the background, the citrus energy is given in the emotion of chinotto melted with lime and orange blossom. Full, juicy and centered body shows a solid and true core Full body, tannins of remarkable workmanship round and well extracted in the matrix and an elegant finish on the finish. Better from 2022.
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is nuanced with dark florals, hints of black cherry, mint leaf, and smoky minerals. With time, more baritone notes of tobacco come forward. It's velvety in the mouth, showing ripe red and black fruits, licorice and sweet herbal tones. Fine tannins settle in through the finale; yet they don't get in the way, as this tapers off to hints of dark chocolate and savory spice.
This gorgeous wine opens with alluring aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, underbrush, new leather, truffle, plum and eucalyptus. Smooth and full-bodied yet elegant, the savory, juicy palate delivers crushed Marasca cherry, raspberry preserve, licorice and menthol alongside polished, enveloping tannins. Fresh acidity provides impeccable balance while an orange zest note lifts the finish. Drink 2023-2032. Cellar Selection.
Bright ruby with rich garnet. Presents itself in the nose with rich fruit notes, a basket full of ripe cherries and plums, some cranberry and goji berries, in the background spicy-resinous components. Juicy and structured in the approach, opens with fine-meshed tannin, very juicy, lots of cherry, very elegant, broad.
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is a gorgeous expression that sits firmly on a base of dark fruit, spice, tobacco, and crushed river stone. There is a spot of ripe fruit and candied raspberry that comes into focus as the wine warms in the glass. The wine is slightly shorter in the mouth, but it quickly makes up for that thanks to balanced elegance, fine tannins and tangy acidity.
Good full red-ruby. High-pitched aromas of red cherry and violet are complemented by lower tones of licorice and dried herbs. Concentrated and primary in the midpalate; ripe dark fruit flavors build slowly and stain the palate. Deep and dense on the tactile finish, this wine could use a little more acidity to highlight its dark, medicinal aspect. Bigger, richer and deeper than Ciacci Piccolomini's 2013 Brunello, it will likely develop more grace and nuance over time, hence the "+" sign attached to the numerical score.
Elegant, evoking cherry, strawberry, cigar box, and graphite flavors matched to a firm structure. Shows fine balance and expression. Best from 2021 through 2033.
Aromas of plums, fresh mushrooms and violets. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful balance and length. Powerful tannins underneath the exquisite fruit. Great finish. Goes on for minutes. Drink or hold.
With so many fantastic wines produced in 2010, it's hard to make a shortlist of your favorites. One expression that should definitely be included is the stunning 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro, This is a graceful and super elegant wine with bold aromatic intensity that is followed by firm tannins and a polished, smooth texture. It offers power in the proverbial silken glove. But the wines is not simplistic by any stretch. The longer it warms in the glass, the more it delights and surprises. Delicate tones of wild berry, cassis, blanched almond and dried ginger work together in harmony.
A racy style, with a firm structure buoyed by cherry, leather, mineral and woodsy notes. Firm but poised, presenting terrific energy and cut. Best from 2018 through 2035.
A dark, powerful wine, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is endowed with serious depth and intensity. Mocha, black cherry, smoke, licorice, and dark fleshed fruits are some of the signatures. This is an especially dark, brooding Brunello with massive fruit but less of the sheer radiance of the straight Pianrosso. Today, the 2010 comes across a bit heavy. It will be interesting to see if it acquires more finesse during its aging. The 2010 spent four full years in cask.
A red with sliced meat, dark chocolate, berry and spice. Full body, silky tannins and a tangy finish. A harmonious and beautiful wine. This is so layered and fabulous. So wonderful. These riserva Brunellos from Ciacci are always phenomenal. Drink now.
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is big rich and seemless. The wine had just been bottled the day of my visit, but it is very promising, even at this early stage.
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is big, rich and seamless. The wine had just been bottled the day of my visit, but it is very promising, even at this early stage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.
Brilliant strawberry and raspberry fruit up front is matched by burly tannins on the finish, but the long and harmonious finish shows the potential of this red. Silky and detailed, with tobacco, spice and a hint of balsamic lingering on the aftertaste. Best from 2015 through 2030. 1,660 cases made, 500 cases imported.
Lovely aromas of dark fruit with blackberries, flowers and hints of cloves. Full body, with chewy and velvety tannins that are polished and pretty. Long and juicy. Powerful wine. Very creamy texture. Glorious red. Drink now or hold.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d'Oro is impressive. Interstingly, it is quite a it better than the regular Pianrosso. In this difficult vintage the decision to make a Riserva probably robbed the straight Pianrosso of some high quality fruit. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and mint are woven together in this powerful, structured Brunello while firm tannins frame the long, intense finish. I especially like the way the fruit continues to flesh out with addtional time in the glass. This is a great showing and a terrific effort from Ciacci.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is impressive. Interestingly, it is quite a bit better than the regular Pianrosso. In this difficult vintage the decision to make a Riserva probably robbed the straight Pianrosso of some high quality fruit. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and mint are woven together in this powerful, structured Brunello while firm tannins frame the long, intense finish. I especially like the way the fruit continues to flesh out with additional time in the glass. This is a great showing and a terrific effort from Ciacci. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.
A wellspring of tobacco, underbrush, tea and mineral notes more than fruit at this point, this red acquiesces to its formidable structure now, yet it's built for the long haul. There's sweet fruit and intensity that should emerge over time. Best from 2015 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,081 cases made, 166 cases imported.
Aromas of blackberries, cherries, fresh roses and tar. Ripe fruit. Full body and amazingly polished tannins. Caressing mouthfeel. Super refined.
Fabulous aromas of cherry, fresh rose, blackberry and tar, with hints of raisin. Full-bodied, with wonderfully polished tannins. Ultrarefined. This is the greatest wine ever from this producer. Best after 2011. 750 cases made, 330 cases imported.
The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Santa Caterina d’Oro is another terrific effort from Ciacci and proprietor Paolo Bianchini. This sumptuous, deeply-colored wine is gorgeously sweet and long, with endless layers of well-defined smoke, tar, earthinees, tobacco and black cherries. It reveals a superb balance as well as ripe tannins that convey an image of elegance. As appealing as it is today, this Brunello will be even better in a few years' time. It is one of the vintage's unqualified successes.
The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro is another terrific effort from Ciacci and proprietor Paolo Bianchini. This sumptuous, deeply-colored wine is gorgeously sweet and long, with endless layers of well-defined smoke, tar, earthiness, tobacco and black cherries. It reveals superb balance as well as ripe tannins that convey an image of elegance. As appealing as it is today, this Brunello will be even better in a few years’ time. It is one of the vintage’s unqualified successes.
Delicious dark berry flavor and notes of pepper with a surprisingly refreshing acidity. This Cabernet Franc boasts a smooth and elegant mid-palate and graceful finish. The alcohol content is a moderate 12.5%, making this an ideal wine to enjoy with or without food. On warmer days, it’s nice served slightly chilled.
Bright, medium-deep ruby red; aromas of bing cherry, black cherry and a hint of nutmeg. Medium-bodied, this has ideal ripeness, medium-weight tannins, good acidity and very good varietal purity. Very appealing, with excellent harmony. Very nice value. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years.
An approachable, medium-bodied Cabernet with generous fruit expressions of blackberries, cassis and other dark berries enveloped in a velvety smooth texture and pleasant spicy notes. Though this wine can be aged a few years, it is enjoyable already young, particularly in accompaniment to red meat or a cheese plate.
An unusual Cabernet Sauvignon that seems to be focused on easy and early drinking. Pale in the glass, with violet and vinous character. Chewy and crunchy with a light body. Drink now. Screw cap.
This lightly oaked Chardonnay is a fine example of the Friuli terroir, expressing classic weight and structure with aromas of crisp apple, white flowers and subtle hints of tropical fruit and vanilla spice. A lively palate with a satisfying weight, this wine finishes with just the balance between fruit, minerality, and acidity. The value of this Chardonnay cannot be overstated compared to classic Burgundy or California Chardonnay.
This wine is focused on floral and varietal character. Linden tree, grapefruit and winter melon. Refreshing acidity and a light to medium body with a tight yet flavorful finish.
Pretty aromas of honeysuckle, sliced apple, white peach and lemon curd. It’s medium-bodied with tangy acidity with a creamy yet bright finish. Drink now.
An attractive white sliced-apple and light honey character, as well as pie crust. Medium body. Plenty of good fruit and a flavorful finish. Drink now.
Fermented and refined solely in stainless steel, this is an elegantly aromatic and medium-bodied Chardonnay with fresh notes of green and yellow apple and pear. A partial malolactic fermentation makes the wine fuller and rounder with an alluring slightly creamy texture. The Chardonnay perfectly embodies the Clic philosophy of making wines to be enjoyed, even better if enjoyed with friends.
A varietal chardonnay full of delicacy and freshness. White flowers, melon, Mirabelle plums and pears. Crisp on the palate, with refreshing acidity, a bit of texture, a medium body and a good finish. Screw cap.
Aromas of apples and pears with a subtle nose of orange blossom and honey. Juicy and textured with a medium body and fruity finish. Creamy at the end.
Aromas of peach blossom, lemon and sliced apple. It’s medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Fresh and straightforward. Drink now. Screw cap.
Fermentation and long refinement in oak barriques of 50% of the must yields a Chardonnay that is particularly elegant and complex, with a notable balance between freshness and sapidity. Delicate perfumes of vanilla scents fade into more exotic aromas of pineapple, banana and citrus, finishing with hazelnuts and melted butter. This is a Chardonnay of great character that expresses the particular terroir of the Illasi Valley, especially adapted to white grape varieties.
Complex aromas of golden berries, pears, ripe nectarines and dried flowers. Medium-bodied palate with white peach and brioche flavors. Balanced, long finish. Focused chard.
Pleasant chardonnay with apple, pineapple, lemon and pie-crust character. Medium body with a fresh, clean-cut finish. All in place. Drink now.
This is a delicious chardonnay with lots of cooked-apple, lemon and pear character. Full body, bright acidity and a clean, fresh finish. Hints of smoke and toasted oak. Drink now.
Candied grapefruit and lemon notes, as well as nice creaminess on the palate. A long, silky finish, making this a very Northern Italian chardonnay. Drink now or in 2019 and 2020.
The Chianti Riserva is 100% Sangiovese from old vines (30 years), lending concentration and density. A welcome diversion from the textbook Chianti of the past, this is a surprising wine of personality and character with rich, saturated color and aromas of dark fruit, leather, wet earth and spicy overtones of cinnamon and clove. This Chianti is aged in large oak casks, imparting a broad and bold structure, yet the wine remains silky and aromatically precise at the same time.
Spiced and leathery character, with ripe dark berries, cocoa and wet earth. Dry and lightly chewy, with a medium body and fine, dusty tannins. Polished, with moderate length. Drink now or hold.
A firm and linear red with sliced orange peel and dark cherries. Medium body. Bright acidity. Clean finish. Drink now.
This is nothing like the textbook Chianti you might be familiar with. The Casanova della Spinetta 2013 Chianti Riserva is an inspired rendition with a surprising level of personality and pedigree. Fruit is sourced from old vines (30-year-old plants) and the resulting concentration and density is evident. The wine opens to a dark, saturated color with aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and campfire ash. The wine is aged in large oak casks and shows broad, strong shoulders.
Pleasant berry and cedar character to this with shaved chocolate. Medium body, round tannins and a clean finish. Drink now.
The only red wine produced by Ronco dei Tassi, the Cjarandon Riserva is released exclusively in favorable vintages for Collio reds. The wine takes its name from the vineyard where the grapes for this “Super Friulian” are grown, and this predominantly Merlot (with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) blend is aged for two years in Allier oak barrels plus an additional year in bottle, giving its intense ruby red color subtle garnet reflections as well. The nose is generous, intense and persistent with notes of dark fruit, black pepper and graphite. On the palate, the Cjarandon is bright and juicy, round, full and intense with a fine dusting of tannins and a beautifully long finish.
A very leafy and earthy wine with cassis, leather and clay notes. Austere on the palate due to firm tannins, refreshing acidity and a medium body. Drink or hold.
Ripe plums and bramble berries with violets, hints of spice box and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied. Firm and slightly chewy tannins with ripe berry fruit underneath. Structured and focused with a chalky finish. A blend of 60% merlot and 30% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.
Dark ruby red. Reveals an earthy, toasty oak and dark plum bouquet. Good volume and balance in the mouth with firm acidity and flavors that repeat the bouquet–hint of mushroom complementing plum and other dark red fruit, finishing with very good length. A 60% Merlot based blend with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc sourced from the 1.0 ha Cjarandon vineyard and aged 2 years in 60% new Allier oak barrels.
A blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc; matured in 60% new barriques, 40% used barriques. Bright, medium deep ruby red; aromas of black currant, black cherry and lavender. Medium-full with a layered mid-palate, this has very good acidity, excellent ripeness, impressive persistence and well-integrated wood notes. Notable complexity and typicity; enjoy over the next 5-7 years.
A blend of mostly Merlot with smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the Ronco dei Tassi 2015 Collio Rosso Riserva Cjarandon boasts a deep, dark color and concentrated aromas of black fruit and plum. The backbone of the wine is quite acidic and not particularly thick or fleshy. In the end, this wine delivers lots of pointed power and focus over a lean-bodied mouthfeel with freshness and herbal notes on the close. Pair it with a fatty meat, such as a typical Italian holiday dish of cotechino sausage and lentils. Exactly 5,938 numbered bottles and 300 magnums were released. I tasted bottle number 3,032.
The Carricante grapes for the Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara come from 45 years old vines in the Calderara contrada, one of Etna’s most highly regarded Cru. The soil in this vineyard is a mixture of black pumice and basalt, the result of thousands of years of lava flows and volcanic deposits and enhances the typical minerality of the Carricante variety. Welcoming perfumes of lemon flowers, elderflower, chamomile, bergamot, sage and fresh oregano are intertwined with white peach and yellow plum. A saline vitality explodes on the palate, enhancing the wine’s supple body. This is undoubtedly a white wine destined for ageing.
The Cottanera 2022 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara shows a glossy off-gold color with aromas of citrus cream, blanched almond and minty apple. Those rich fruit flavors are framed by dusty mineral tones of sea salt and volcanic ash. Hot vintage conditions tend to underline the lemony quality of this mid-weight white, adding preserved lemon with a hint of exotic spice on the close.
Lemons, jasmine, white flowers and blanched almonds on the nose. Creamy and textured with a medium body, fresh acidity and a delicious, lengthy finish. Carricante.
The 2022 Etna Bianco Calderara opens slowly with a nuanced blend of young peaches, rubbed sage, stone dust and sweet spice, keeping the glass constantly in motion. Medium in body, this is silky-smooth, revealing mineral-laced orchard fruits lifted by a tinge of sour citrus. The 2022 finishes long and youthfully tense. A tart resonance of lime and savory herbs wraps things up.
Showing a finely focused bouquet, the 2021 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara reveals delicate layers of citrus, crushed stone, flint and white flower. This wine needs another year or two of bottle age to flesh out and develop. Carricante has a big evolutionary track ahead of it, and this gorgeous wine is at the beginning of a long road.
Partially vinified and matured in French oak tonneaux (60%), along with cement tanks (40%), this 100% Carricante from 60-year-old vines in Contrada Calderara at 780m is rounder and less aromatic than the entry-level Etna Bianco. Saying that, it's vertical and saline, intense, concentrated and spicy. Clearly defined flavours of crunchy apple, pineapple and white peach lead to a fresh and pithy finish with a hint of mango.
A nose that's at first grassy and salty opens to reveal pink grapefruit, orange blossom, peach and even jasmine before a palate that's full and ripe with more stone fruit, citrus and flowers but an almost saltwater finish.
Intense and complex nose with hints of orange blossom, honey and Mediterranean maquis. Well balanced on the palate, fresh and juicy, drinkable, with a long finish.
Lemons, jasmine, white flowers and blanched almonds on the nose. Creamy and textured with a medium body, fresh acidity and a delicious, lengthy finish. Carricante. Drink now.
Bright straw yellow with greenish reflections. Intense and complex nose with hints of orange blossom, honey and Mediterranean scrub. Well balanced on the palate, fresh and juicy, gluggable, with a long finish.
Dusty and floral, the 2021 Etna Bianco Calderara opens with wet stone and crushed almonds accentuating dried apricots. It's soothingly round and textural, showing ripe orchard fruits offset by sour citrus and melon. This leaves a staining of minerality and pretty inner florals to linger while tapering off with a subtle tension and medium length.
The 2020 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara shows a bright golden shine with pretty density and some waxiness on the finish that adds extra weight and gravitas. The wine is aged in cement vats and partially in large oak barrels. The aromas span from orchard fruit to pastry cream with vanilla and a hit of saffron. This is a real treat.
Aromas of white tea spice, baked green apple and white peach. Medium-bodied with nice clarity and transparency. Balanced, crisp and clean. Lavender and ground ginger. Drink now.
Impressively complex nose of stone fruit and citrus, plus a whole bouquet of flowers. Concentrated and very elegant palate with excellent textural complexity. Long, celery-salt finish. Drink or hold.
The Cottanera 2018 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara is hitting prime drinking right now with perfumed notes of peach and orange peel, backed by candied almond and creamy custard. The Carricante grape is not normally this plush, soft and aromatic, but the Calderara is a special and deeply attractive wine. Some 40% of the total is fermented in oak and the wine is partially aged on the lees. These steps serve to further flesh out the wine's texture and volume. I especially love those glossy notes of latex or natural rubber. The wine is idea for a baked, flaky white fish. The finish shows medium length, but the power of the bouquet makes up for it.
Aromas of Spanish broom, yellow peach and wet stone mingle with whiffs of hazelnut. Reflecting the nose, the elegant, vibrant palate offers apricot, Meyer lemon, toasted nut and saline mineral notes framed in bright acidity.
Elegant and fine, the 2017 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara is a wine of extreme precision and balance. Like its peers, this expression of Carricante offers a rather neutral bouquet upon first
I love how the guava peel, citrus, herbs and kiwi fruit interact on the nose, creating a sense of purity and focus. Medium to full body, some finely tuned acidity and a medium, oily finish. Drink now.
Pale straw yellow. Aromas and flavors of field herbs, white flowers, nectarine and balsamic oils. Rich and dense on entry, but lifted thanks to harmonious lively acidity. This finishes long and saline. Still an infant, give this another couple of years in the cellar to let it develop fully.
Vivid straw with golden highlights. Very lemony fresh aromas of apple and pear, lifted by white flowers. Then juicy, deep and quite serious with a very strong lemon and mieral presence, offering lingering white peach nuances on the back end. This will likely develop slowly and blossom in about two years from now. Best white from Cottanera I have ever tried.
The single-vineyard 2016 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara is indeed characterized by a more robust and structured flavor profile. The bouquet offers stone fruit, pineapple and Golden Delicious apple. This white wine also offers a broad and lasting sense of texture and volume. The vines are 40 years old and more, and the wine is partially oak fermented. Some 5,600 bottles were produced.
The nose of this Etna white is very intense with papaya, pink grapefruit and guava peel. The palate shows impressive concentration, supporting tons of pithy citrus and stone fruit within a fine sheen of acid. Quite long on the finish. Pure carricante. Drink now.
Pale yellow. Reticent nose hints at bright stone fruit and minerals. Precise, tight and dense, without any undue weight, this shows outstanding inner-mouth tension, fine-grained texture and strong salinity. A beautifully balanced, energetic wine with a very long, focused finish. Made with 100% Carricante; the 40-45 year old vines grow in the Calderara vineyard near Feudo di Mezzo that has a volcanic, sand and gravel-rich soil. This is aged in 15 hL barrels, while the 2014 was aged in tonneaux; winemaker Lorenzo Landi told me he believes this wine requires a bit more oxygenation to showcase all it’s got to offer and that’s the reason he opted to use large oak barrels as an aging vessel.
The 2015 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara is a pristine and mineral-driven wine that really underlines why I have such high hope for this diminutive wine region at the heart of the Mediterranean. This wine manages to feel weightless and buoyant, but it sticks to the palate with crispness and persistence at the same time. This single-vineyard expression of partially oak-aged Carricante delivers pedigree and accessibility. The finish is laced with marine salt, ash and elegant touches of flint
A pure expression of Carricante, the 2014 Etna Bianco Contrada Calderara is partially fermented in oak (40% of the mass). The rest is fermented in cement vats. Part of the wine ages on the lees in oak barrel. This sophisticated approach adds lots of inner depth and dimension to this versatile white grape that produces such a beautiful results in volcanic soils. The wine is balanced and bright, with a long succession of stone fruit, cantaloupe melon and chopped almond aromas. This Etna Bianco is very well balanced and is a delight to drink. Pretty mineral tones add focus and sharpness to the finish. Only 5,600 bottles were produced.
Bright straw. Minty aromas of grapefruit, minerals and ginger are complicated by a note of white pepper. Brisk and stony on entry, then austere and linear in the middle but with terrific lift to the intense grapefruit, white stones fruit and crushed rock flavors. Finishes tactile, but with just the slightest hint of a green streak, which keeps my score lower than it might have been. If it resolves over time, then my score will look ungenerous. From 40-year-old Carricante vines, this is partially barrel-fermented and spends 12 months on the lees.
The Nerello Mascalese grapes for the Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme come from the contrada of the same name. “Diciasettesalme” indicates the 25-hectare Cru, which corresponds to 17 (diciasette in Italian) Salme, an antique Sicialian unit of measurement. The lava-clay soil in the vineyard yields a wine with strength, dense tannins and an intense ruby red color. On the nose, mixed berry perfumes turn softly into herbal notes, such as mauve, thyme and juniper, interlaced with the mineral sensations typical of the variety and vineyards. Perfectly balanced tannins finish with a balsamic note.
The 2021 Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme shows dusty minerals and dried fruit aromas. This wine generally has more muscle and dark fruit compared to the Zottorinoto, which tends to be floral and more delicate in character. Diciassettesalme is fresh and linear, delivering all the basics of Nerello Mascalese from this mighty Sicilian volcano. The vineyard is located just under the Cottanera winery at 780 meters in elevation and planted on light or gray lava rock. The soils are unique to this site. The wine spends 28 to 30 days on the skins followed by 10 months in oak.
A savory and vibrant red with notes of tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes, raspberries and cherry stones. Tight and firm, with a medium body and tight tannins. Excellent focus. Nerello mascalese. Drink or hold.
Brilliant ruby red. On the nose there are primary notes of mustard seeds, dried rose petals, raspberries, ripe cherries and subtle resinous tones. Hearty on the palate with tightly woven tannins, punchy, stoney, finishing with polished red fruit.
Slightly reductive on the nose, but after a bit of air you are greeted with notes of crushed herbs, spiced plums and dried roses. Medium-bodied with underlying mineral character. Juicy and flavorful on the palate. Best after 2024.
Elegant, flinty pale ruby. A bit reductive on the nose at first, then cold smoke, almost bacon, reverberating with geranium. Dense and very juicy on the palate, also shows fine fruity-sweet components, seems nicely polished in the back, finishes with both juicy and salty.
The Cottanera 2020 Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme is lean in texture and very true to Nerello Mascalese with dusty, dark fruit and ashy tones of campfire amber and scorched mineral. I like the simplicity of this wine and its easy-drinking style, which would face off just fine with a classic plate of cacio e pepe, a favorite dish of Roman cuisine. In fact, you taste a hint of black pepper on the close. This is a 30,000-bottle production.
The wet, gravely scent of fresh rain on cobblestones joins red apple and cherries on the nose before the palate offers cherries, strawberries, vanilla and cola with a warm, spiciness at the back. Polished tannins coat the mouth before acid punches through.”
The Cottanera 2019 Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme offers a lean and pure expression of Nerello Mascalese without too many extra bells or whistles. The wine finishes fermentation in oak and continues its evolution in large casks for eight months. There are dusty notes that frame cassis and sour cranberry. But both the fruity and the mineral sides of the wine are well-contained and measured. Diciassettesalme offers a highly drinkable and accessible side to Etna.
Bright, radiant ruby red. On the nose of rich red berries, a hint of flint, delicate toast, then ripe cherries in the aftertaste. On the palate clear and radiant, with the tightest, salty tannin, spans a wide range, with emphasis and the most delicate consumption.
Still very young, this Etna red has attractive, bright red-berry, wild-herb and candied-orange aromas. The palate has a level of creaminess that's unusual for this appellation, but behind that is a solid tannin structure that powers the moderately dry, mineral finish. Drink or hold.
Medium ruby red. Intriguing scents of red raspberry, cherry and hints of wet earth on the nose. The palate is refined with excellent freshness and purity, mirroring the bouquet with additional notes of spices and tobacco leaf. Finishes long and precise with mineral nuances. Sourced from a 700 m high vineyard in the Diciassettesalme contrada. Matured 8 months in large oak casks.
Clear, medium dense garnet red. Opens with pronounced metallic notes, then beetroot with strawberry in the background. On the palate, crisp acidity, dense tannins, nicely layered fruit, salty and firm drive.
Aromas of underbrush, Mediterranean herb, eucalyptus and red berry waft out of the glass. The bright medium-bodied palate features juicy morello cherry, raspberry, baking spice and a hint of hazelnut alongside fine-grained tannins.
Cottanera's 2017 Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme, with fruit from a contrade in Castiglione di Sicilia, is a svelte and polished expression of Nerello Mascalese that shows classy elegance and balanced intensity. This mid-weight wine exhibits a bright, almost glossy texture with delicate aromas of wild rose, bitter almond, mountain herb and crushed granite stone. Don't underestimate those tannins. Although you don't initially notice them, you are made clearly aware of how long and steady this wine remains on the finish thanks to that inner structure. Diciassettesalme has made leaps and bounds forward in quality and cellar-worthiness over these past few years. About 17,500 bottles were produced.
There’s a touch of reduction at first, but this soon opens to reveal wild strawberries, citrus and red peppers. Medium body, firm tannins and a tangy, mineral finish. Drink now.
Deep red-ruby. Delicate floral red cherry and mineral aromas on the nose. Tight and sappy in the mouth, with firm acids giving shape to the ripe flavors of berries, sweet spices, and mocha. Conveys an impression of extract but finishes with polished tannins and outstanding freshness and length.
Aromas of ripe dark-skinned berry, exotic spice, espresso and a whiff of Mediterranean brush lift out of the glass. Reflecting the nose, the tense, linear palate offers Marasca cherry, licorice, clove, wild herb and coffee bean alongside taut, close-grained tannins that give the finish grip.
A pure nerello mascalese with firm and silky tannins, dark chocolate and spice. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a juicy and delicious finish. Drink now.
Deep red. Flint and chewy, red licorice complement small red/dark berries on the nose and in the mouth. Ripe and easygoing, this lacks the complexity of Cottanera’s best wines, but makes an excellent easy-going Etna Rosso.
Aromas of forest, scorched earth, dark spice and a tosted note lift from the glass. The aromas follow through to the palate along with dried morello cherry, grilled sage anda hint of coconut while close-grained tannins provide support.
Aromas of dark berries and black spices lead the nose on this polished red. The concentrated but refined palate delivers crushed raspberries, licorice and mineral notes framed in velvety tannins. Drink 2017-2024.
100% Nerello Mascalese from 40+ year old vines planted in lava soil (volcanic black powder and small lava stones) at 750 meters. Feudo di Mezzo is the largest contrada of the Etna DOC, but the Estate’s plot in the Contrada is only 2 hectares in size. Here the Nerello Mascalese exhibits an austere, dusky character with autumnal tones and a floral bouquet enhances by spice and red fruits. The palate is structured with rich tannins, destined for longevity. After a long maceration, malolactic fermentation is carried out in 20hl-30hl French oak casks. The wine is then aged for 14-16 months in French oak casks and 18 months in bottle.
This offers a spicy character with ripe cherries and wild strawberries, as well as hints of dried flowers and earthy complexity. Medium-bodied with a dusty texture and a vibrant core of fruit. Zesty and mineral nuances at the end. Drink or hold.
On the northern slope of Etna, Cottanera’s vineyard in the Contrada Feudo di Mezzo is some two hectares of volcanic black powder and small lava stones planted to Nerello Mascalese, the vines averaging 40 years of age. Following strict selection of the grapes and a long maceration, malolactic fermentation is carried out in 20hl-30hl French oak casks. The wine is then aged for 14-16 months in French oak casks and 18 months in bottle. Super nose of red and black fruits, meaty reduction, liquorice, fresh bay leaf and coal embers. Fresh palate with a core of bright fruit, good length. Real Etna character. (Jason Millar) Intense, finely delineated aromas: smoke, spice, cherries and autumn leaves. Water on stones minerality. Harmonious, nervy, long, sinewy, poised. (Susan Hulme MW) An unusual meaty, nutmeg aroma, followed by sweetly ripe dark berry fruit and nicely integrated oak. A bit drying towards the finish. (Anthony Rose)
The Cottanera 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is a wine of pretty tension and brightness. This light, garnet-colored expression of Nerello Mascalese offers lifted aromas of wild cherry, redcurrant and damson plum. There is a momentary note of raspberry-like sweetness on the mid-palate, but the wine extends to graphite aromas and shaved pencil. This is a nicely balanced interpretation of a warm vintage.
Brilliant ruby red tending towards garnet. Floral and slightly smoky bouquet with clear notes of red flowers, berries and wild spices. On the pallet, it is full-bodied, structured and intense, with good freshness and cleanliness on the finish.
Dusty roses, violets and incense give way to dried black cherries as the 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens in the glass. This is remarkably fresh and energetic in style, with depths of mineral-tinged wild berry fruits and an invigorating sour citrus thrust toward the close. It finishes long and gently tannic with a saturation of licorice and a waft of savory herbs. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2030
The 2019 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is tight and focused with volcanic tones of scorched earth and dark fruit. The wine has a bright primary side with pressed cherry and blueberry, and it fleshes out nicely over the palate thanks to the mid-weight texture of that supple fruit. There are floral notes of rose and iris too. This vintage offers something now, and it will offer more for those who choose to wait.
This has aromas of strawberries, orange zest, raspberries and chocolate orange, with some oyster shells. It’s medium-bodied and savory with firm, fine-grained tannins. Underlying mineral restraint. Just opening up. Nerello mascalese. Drink or hold.
From 40-year-old vines located at 750-770m, Feudo di Mezzo is matured in French oak casks for 16 months, with a further 18 months in bottle. Herbal and summer meadow scents accompany balsamic red and black cherries, while in the mouth it's earthy and floral, with a juicy sapidity of ripe red fruits, a soft, silky mid-palate and fine, integrated tannins. Vertical and elegant, it finishes with some lavender and milk chocolate on the finish.
Extremely floral aromas here with red fruit and hints of toffee and meat. Medium to full body, round and creamy tannins and a delicious, creamy finish. This is will age nicely. Drink now or hold.
The 2018 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo shows a solid, medium-bodied approach with light aromas of dried cherry, red rose petal, ashy soil and licorice root. There is some dryness on the close, especially in terms of tannins, with medium intensity. This was a tricky vintage on Etna, but this wine offers a more approachable drinking style.
A nose of fresh pansies, strawberries, cherries and bricks opens up to notes of new leather andn a little bit of tar, while the palate stays crunchy and lively with fresh strawberries, hibiscus, cranberry, stones and soil. Structured but forgiving tannins and fizzy acid make for a deeply enjoyable sip.
The Cottanera 2017 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo draws its fruit from one of the grand cru sites of Etna, if you care to classify the appellation vineyards in that manner. From a hot vintage, this wine shows depth and concentration that gives the wine weight and a heavy center of gravity. That makes all the difference in terms of mouthfeel. This wine finishes fermentation in oak and ages in French oak casks for up to 16 months, and the wine's volume and texture have been considerably enhanced as a result. The quality of fruit is solid, and the wine shows pretty acidity thanks to vineyard sites located at a cool 750 meters in elevation.
Elegant, bright ruby red. Delicate, red berry nose, with a hint of sea salt, cold smoke, iron aftertaste and light earthy notes. Dense and firm on the palate, shows powerful, tight tannins, hearty, extends over the tongue for a long time, earthy finish.
This vintage was already rated, but I've come back to check on the wine's progress. The 2016 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is holding steady and firm, still showing youthful brightness. The bouquet reveals a delicate embroidery of dried cassis, cherry, smoke and campfire ash. A volcanic heart and soul distinguish this wine. The tannins are nicely tucked into the silky fiber of this age-worthy Nerello Mascalese.
This is a beautiful wine that is very representative of what a red wine from Etna should look and taste like. This classic rendition, the 2016 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo, shows medium-thick fiber and impressive depth. This is a direct and incisive wine that hits the palate with lovely intensity and sharply defined angles. Compared to Cottanera's Etna Rosso Diciassettesalme, this wine is taller, broader and speaks in a louder voice. I tasted the open bottle again the next morning, and the wine was even softer, more fleshed out and delicious. About 8,000 bottles were produced.
Powerful, shining ruby garnet. Opened with earthy-metallic notes, with ripe plums and some wild raspberries. Substantial and powerful on the palate, lots of gripping, hearty tannins, pronounced earthy notes in the finale.
This wine represents a pure expression of Nerello Mascalese from one of the most celebrated crus on the volcano. The 2015 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo delivers deep footsteps and a heavier gait compared to past vintages. The wine is saturated and thick, on the Etna standard (that tends to produce powerful mid-weight wines). There is a lot of fruit intensity here with a plump, slightly sweet disposition. Some 8,000 bottles were made.
Opened with pronounced flint and iodine notes, then dark blackberry. Substantial, gripping tannin, many layers, salty, long finish.
Boysenberries, forest floor, red apples and pink grapefruit. Medium to full body, serious, polished tannins and a chewy finish. Structured finesse in a bottle. Drink now.
Bright red. Luscious, open-knit aromas and flavors of creamy red cherry, vanilla and potpourri. Round, rich and ripe on the palate, finishing long with a healthy dollop of spices and noteworthy youthfully chewy and spicy tannins.
Aromas of watermelon, plums and flowers follow through to a medium body with a solid core of fruit and a smoky and fruity finish. Delicious. Pure nerello mascalese. Drink now.
Here's a very interesting new wine from the Cambria family of Cottanera. The 2014 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo is a single-vineyard effort from one of the most celebrated cru sites on this northern side of the volcano. Feudo di Mezzo sees soils that have been broken down and eroded from ancient lava flows and is therefore fine and almost sandy in nature. This helps to establish elegance and finesse in the wine. The bouquet opens to wild blueberry and white cherry aromas with light dustings of ash and spice at the back
Bright red. Flinty red berries and botanical herbs on the nose. Slightly riper red berries in the mouth, at once elegant but also currently very tannic. Turns very floral on the long finish. This will age well. Strikes me as one of the more precise, refined versions of this wine by Cottanera. From 25 year old vines, this 100% Nerello Mascalse is aged in 20 hL oak barrels for 15 months.
The Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is made from 100% Nerello Mascalese from the estate’s oldest (over 60 years) vines, located in the Zottorinoto Cru at incredible altitudes of over 2,500 feet. In this exceptional wine, the grapes express their deepest character with floral notes and Mediterranean herbs interwoven with red fruits (blueberries, raspberries and blackberries) and spicy vanilla and black tea. A velvety palate is balanced by the noble tannins. This is a wine for the most special of occasions.
The top-shelf wine from Cottanera is the 2019 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto. This is an impressive effort with great aromatic intensity that cedes to a long and polished mouthfeel. The wine glides over the palate with redcurrant, cranberry and delicate lavender aromas. It offers excellent integration, especially considering the extra fruit concentration that comes naturally to this vintage.
60-year-old vines provide the fruit for this 24-month barrel-aged Riserva. Bright red and black cherry scents are underlined by balsamic and floral touches. Chalky tannins support a concentration of pomegranate, cherry and chocolate, with a spicy attack of tangy red fruits leading to a bold, dank and earthy mid-palate. The finish is fresh, stony and balsamic.
This is a wild and earthy red with notes of watermelon, walnuts, ash, mineral and earth. It’s medium-bodied and chewy. Long, salty and savory. Drink or hold.
The 2019 Etna Rosso Zottorinoto is darkly floral and earthy in the glass, with a blend of grilled herbs, crushed rocks and blackberries forming its bouquet. This displays silky textures and masses of mineral-tinged red and black fruits. Hints of cocoa emerge toward the close. It finishes with a coating of fine tannins and a staining of primary concentration, offset by a bump of residual acidity that maintains fantastic freshness despite its youthfully structured state.
Received the rating of 3 Glasses for extraordinary wines
A very creamy and refined 2017 with black-cherry, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with medium, round tannins and a savory finish. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is a beautiful wine that shows enormous elegance and medium fruit weight. It delivers plenty of texture and intensity that is never overplayed. The tannins are on the dry side in the sunny 2017 vintage, but there is generous dark fruit, wild berry, tarry spice and campfire ash. The wine needs a few more years to flesh out and integrate.
An impressive wine from the Cambria family of Cottanera. From a classic and balanced vintage, the 2016 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is redolent of dark fruit and blackcurrant. The primary fruit is beautifully intact, and the wine's natural acidity serves to play up the brightness and the freshness of those flavors. Purple and black fruit tones cede to spice, tar, smoke and grilled herb. This is a mid-weight red, but don't underestimate its power and complexity. There is a lot of Etna typicity packed into this elegant bottle. Again, this is an impressive Etna red.
Cottanera's 2015 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto offers a beautiful level of purity and sharpness, with plenty of the electric energy and tightness you should expect of a great wine from Etna. This vintage offers some extra ripeness with fruity tones that veer toward plum and black cherry. But those fruit tones are reigned back by the defined mineral backbone of the wine that cedes to campfire ash and scorched earth. The 2015 fruit is a bit looser and thicker altogether. This wine should come together beautifully with a few more years of bottle aging. Only 1,900 bottles were made.
The 2014 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is one of the stars in this exciting group of new releases from Etna. The wine is darkly saturated and powered by intense, territory-driven aromas. Wild cherry and cranberry emerge first with dark tones of crushed rock and camphor ash at the back. The mouthfeel is tight, elegant and very polished. This vintage shows a very tight and compact nature at its core that makes me think it will have a lot to offer as it continues its bottle evolution. Only 1,900 bottles were produced.
Powerful, shining ruby with garnet. Opened with notes of ripe blackberries, some plums, followed by iodine and liquorice. Substantial and dense in approach and course, fine dark berry fruit, opens with present, dense tannin, in the finale of liquorice.
What a nose with tulips, dried rose petals, burnt oranges, pomegranate, mandarins, cinnamon, tamarind and black pepper. So juicy and generous yet structured and serious, the beautiful red fruit driven along by well-poised acidity and sturdy tannins. Drink now or hold.
Moderately saturated ruby-red. Clean, flinty and characterized typically by darker fruit aromas and flavors than all of the other Cottanera red wines. Finishes with slow building but noble tannins and a multilayered quality. Zottorino evolves at a much slower pace than other Etna reds, so I'd suggest forgetting about this in your cellar for the next couple of years.
The 2013 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is a stunning wine that possesses deep inner depth and a profound nature. The wine reveals itself slowly with a first wave of dried fruit and cassis that later yields to darkened spice and campfire ash. The wine's mineral backbone is prominent and sophisticated, as it should be given the mighty volcanic territory that shaped it. In the mouth, the wine shows a silky and fine texture that should take on more volume and mass as the wine continues its aging evolution.
Lots of ripe-strawberry, smoke and meat character on the nose and palate. Medium body, round and chewy. Delicious finish. Aging nicely. Pure nerello mascalese. Drink or hold.
Good full ruby. Intense red cherry and flinty minerals on the perfumed nose. Bright dense and juicy, with lively flavors of red berries and sweet spices complicated by aromatic herbs. Youthful, chewy tannins and harmonious acidity extend the flavors on the bright, suave finish. Deeper and richer than the Fuedo di Mezzo, though it’s easy to recognize a family resemblance. Made from 75 year old Nerello Mascalese vines; aged 24 months in 15 hL oak barrels. The soil here is very sandy volcanic ash (it blows all over the place when you drive into the vineyards, so if your car windows are down, remember to keep your mouth shut, or I guarantee you’ll really get to taste terroir). The 2013 vintage was a cool one on Etna, but the Nerello Mascalese grapes used to make this wine must have ripened fully and well.
Cottanera is showing an ever-increasing learning curve, and I think this is very evident in this Riserva. This is the second edition of a limited-edition (only 1,982 bottles were produced), single-vineyard, top-shelf wine. The 2012 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto puts Cottanera's winemaking moxie to the test. The results show depth, volume and power, with bold aromatic trimmings of blackberry, crème de cassis, balsam herb and dried mint. But the real personality of the bouquet is driven by those distinctive mineral notes of ash and brimstone. In the mouth, the wine is alive and succulent. This is an excellent, cellar-worthy red wine from Etna.
Dark ruby-red with a pale rim. Deep red. Intensely perfumed nose of spicy black cherry, coffee and floral elements. Pliant blackberry and cherry flavors have a plush quality and a restrained sweetness, not to mention outstanding concentration. Is there a trace of alcoholic warmth here? Picks up notes of violet and lavender with aeration and closes with slow-building, silky tannins and noteworthy length.
The flagship wine from Cottanera, the 2011 Etna Rosso Riserva Zottorinoto is a library sample generously given to me by the Cambria family to explore the aging potential of this Etna red and, more generally, wines made with Nerello Mascalese. This is the inaugural vintage, and I remember how much I loved Zottorinoto when I first tasted it. Boasting a dark ruby hue, the bouquet delivers dried cherry, blackberry, balsam herb and toasted rosemary. The finish is dry and the tannins dusty. There is a fully evolved component to the bouquet with resin and tarry smoke. I tasted bottle number 1,659 of 1,978 produced. This was a hot vintage, and the wine has dried out a bit, but it otherwise shows steady results that set it up for another five to 10 years of drinking.
The original 19th century recipe for Contratto Americano is based on a unique combination of white wine, Italian brandy and a delicate infusion of over 25 premium natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds. The selection of botanicals (including ginger, mint, bitter orange, sage, etc.) comes from a similar pool to the Vermouth, though the Americano is a bit sweeter. This aromatic infusion of herbs and spices creates a distinctive bouquet and flavor, delicious served chilled on its own and a perfect ingredient in classic and contemporary mixology.
Burnt sienna color. Showing a complex bouquet of citrus, cinnamon, burnt sugar and a hint of eucalyptus leaf, the Americano Rosso is creamy smooth and off dry. There’s an appealing note of orange marmalade along with other citrus, floral and herbal notes on the palate. Infused with a variety of aromatics including wormwood and gentian. The name Americano refers to bitterness and has nothing to do with the Western Hemisphere. 200 g/L, 16.5% alc.
The original 19th century recipe for the Contratto Vermouth Bianco is based on a unique combination of white wine, Italian brandy and a delicate infusion of more than 50 premium natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds (coriander, chamomile, aloe juice, cinnamon, cardamom, bitter orange, carob tree pods, hibiscus flower, sage, China park, liquorice, etc.). The traditional slow, cold maceration process of extraction results in a sophisticated, well-balanced aperitif with a distinctive bouquet and flavor. This Vermouth is delicious served chilled on its own with a twist of lemon, but is also the perfect ingredient in classic and contemporary mixology, turning any cocktail into something special.
The Vermouth Bianco made from a 19th century recipe is the most elegant of the Contratto Vermouths. It offers an appealing spice and herbal nose including scents of lemon citrus, dried flowers and fennel and a highly complex flavor profile including notes of lemon, tangerine, butterscotch, honey and numerous herbal and spice elements. Excellent depth, too, finishing off dry. Made from a white wine base and Italian brandy with an infusion of 50 aromatics including bark of China. RS 190 g/L 18% alc.
The recipe for the Vermouth Rosso is also based on a combination of white wine, Italian brandy and a delicate infusion of over 30 (many of which remain secret) natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds, colored with caramelized sugar. The traditional production method reveals an aperitif that is sophisticated, well-balanced and complex with a distinctive bouquet and flavor. Delicious served chilled on its own with a twist of lemon, the Rosso is also the perfect Vermouth for a variety of classic and contemporary cocktails.
Light brown color. Spicy, coffee and date notes show on the nose with hints of licorice and citrus. Sensual and creamy on the palate with flavors that mirror the nose. Made from a white wine base of Cortese and Italian brandy infused with 31 aromatics including bay laurel, cinnamon, angelica, rhubarb roots, various citrus peels, sandal wood and bark of China. RS 180 g/L, 17% alc.
A blend of Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay (30%), the Cuveè Novecento is a dazzling wine of extraordinary precision. Chalk, white flowers, mint, slate and lemon peel race out of the glass. This sparkling wine spends 7 years aging on its lees, yet remains remarkably fresh with hints of graphite-infused minerality laced throughout a translucent, magnificently pure finish.
The top-end sparkler from Contratto is the 2013 Metodo Classico Pas Dosé Cuvée Novecento. This is a very expressive wine with a unique bouquet focused on candied fruit, tangerine rind, crushed stone, baked bread, beeswax and a fragrant layer of lavender bud or rosemary. These give this sparkler, with its fine and soft beading, a very Mediterranean personality. It ends with soft honey.
The historic Contratto winery was born in 1867, and in 1919, it produced Italy's first Metodo Classico Millesimato wine. This wine is a cousin of that pioneering effort, and its name pays homage to the 19th century. The 2012 Metodo Classico Pas Dosé Cuveè Novecento (with a pretty portrait of a lady on the front) reveals elegant fullness and medium body. Stone fruit and white pear segue to delicate pastry cream, spice and crushed stone. This wine focuses on grace and softness.
Aromas of dried apples, brioche, toffee caramel and almonds. Medium- to full-bodied with tangy acidity and energetic fizz. Grilled lemons and hazelnuts together with a creamy, toasty finish. Drink now.
Honeysuckle, apricots, spiced pears, hazelnuts, walnuts and brioche on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy mousse. Round, layered and intense with a toasty and vinous palate. Dry. Pinot noir and chardonnay. Delicious now.
Lifted aromas of toast and bread dough with dried lemons. Full-bodied, very dry and tangy with a pie-crust and cooked-apple finish. Dried pears, too. Decadent. Drink now.
The tonic and graceful 2010 Metodo Classico Pas Dosé Cuvée Novecento is citrusy and fresh with grapefruit and tangerine skin that appear on first nose. Give the wine a few minutes in the glass, and some of those classic characteristics of the 2010 vintage—including sharp linearity and defined mineral sensations—begin to appear, growing steadily in intensity.
This is a rich and intense wine, apparent immediately by its ruby red color. Soft tannins, well-balanced acidity and consistency are complimented by enchanting hints of wild berries and dried plums, accompanied by notes of coffee, eucalyptus and vanilla. This is a well-structured Merlot, expressing typical qualities of the variety, but also the unique character given by a partial “appassimento” for a portion of the grapes, typical of the region and style of the winery.
Intense dark ruby red with purple reflections. Intense aromas of ripe cherries and plums on the nose with dark chocolate, liquorice and a hint of vanilla. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with very grippy tannins that still appear somewhat youthful.
A decent merlot from part fresh and part dried grapes, showing notes of ripe red fruit, herbs and oak from the aging in barriques. The tannins are well-integrated and the overall impression is of a wine that’s been curated well.
Very mature on the nose it tells notes of red plums, pine needles and toasted hazelnuts. Medium body, slightly dry tannins and a finish that lacks juiciness. Drink now.
The 2011 Decima Aurea is surprisingly elegant and poised, especially considering the ripe vintage. A mix of savory exotic spice and white smoke gives way to ripe blackberry and plums and a refreshing hint of mint leaf. It’s silky and polished, gaining tactile grip as tart red and black berries mix with salty minerals, while tannins mount toward the close. The length here is admirable, and there’s beautiful symmetry as well, staining the palate in concentrated dark fruits while flexing its youthful structure. The 2011 needs a few more years to come into focus, but it should drink beautifully for a decade or more thereafter. This single-vineyard, varietal Merlot undergoes partial appassimento and is then refined in French oak for 14 months prior to bottling.
The opaque 100% Merlot from a 30 year old, single vineyard is our favorite of the Tenuta Santa Maria wines. It’s a complex wine with a multifaceted bouquet of dried plum, licorice, slate and tobacco. The mouth feel is silky with layers of savory blackberry, underbrush and mineral-like flavors with a firm structure and a super-persistent, rich finish. Made with a partial appassimento of the grapes and matured in barrel for 14 months.
The 2010 Decima Aurea Merlot is absolutely gorgeous, presenting a deeply alluring display of crushed blueberries and blackberries complemented by mint leaf, candied ginger and hints of vanilla bean. Its textures are like pure silk, enlivened by bright acidity with a mix of tart fruit and spice coating all that it touches, while leaving a saturation of round tannin that frames the expression perfectly. This is pleasurable from start to finish, tapering off structured yet fresh, hints of licorice and violets lingering on. The Decima Aurea is produced through two separate harvests, the first at ideal ripeness and left to air-dry for one month, and the second harvest a few weeks later. The two harvests are macerated and fermented separately but then blended and matured for 14 months in barriques.
A decadent merlot with notes of dried strawberries, dried flowers and tobacco leaves. There is lot of evolution here. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a smooth finish. There is still tension though. Drink now.
The modest tannins and elegant structure typical of this grape variety make Dolcetto d’Alba an ideal “everyday wine,” enjoyable without being overwhelming. Ruby red in color with bright violet reflections, this wine is bursting with fresh fruit like Marasca cherries, wild strawberries and small red fruit on the nose. It’s particularly enjoyable slightly chilled on a warm summer day.
A bright ruby/magenta hue, the 2023 Dolcetto D'Alba is refreshing on the nose with pretty, pristine fruit aromas of fresh flowers, mixed berries, raspberries, and wet stones. It has a refined and very elegant texture, with fine tannins and a clean, refreshing feel throughout. A lovely Dolcetto with a clean, medium-bodied feel and a great finish, it’s a highly versatile wine to enjoy all year round. Drink now or over the next couple years to capture it at its peak.
The 2022 Dolcetto D'Alba is expressive with candied violets, black raspberry, and dark stones. Fresh and lifted in its style, it displays the vibrancy of this warm vintage. The tannins are polished and elegant, and the wine has a lovely, sweet bouquet that lifts throughout the finish.
Pure fruit flavors of black cherry and blackberry introduce this silky red. It's balanced and charming, with vibrant acidity driving the long mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2025. 370 cases made.
This is a fruity, dark and exuberant expression of one of Piedmont's most food-friendly grapes. The 2017 Dolcetto d'Alba opens to soft richness and fruity succulence, with dried blackberry aromas
The 2016 Dolcetto d'Alba is a tasty, straightforward wine with good varietal character. Plum, black cherry, lavender and spice all flesh out in this succulent, mid-weight Dolcetto.
Though rich and concentrated, this red is sleek, courtesy of the vivid acidity. Black cherry, blackberry and cocoa flavors prevail. Firm tannins provide grip. This should pair well with salumi and antipasti. Drink now though 2022. 1,500 cases made.
The 2012 Dolcetto d'Alba is impeccable. Mid-weight, gracious and beautiful perfumed, the 2012 impresses for its silky texture and exceptional overall balance. Hints of violet, cloves and mint add complexity to the dark fruit in this super-classic drop- dead gorgeous Dolcetto from Chiara Boschis.
